In the early morning of April 28, 45 Japan enthusiasts gathered in the Wallenberg Auditorium at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences to listen to Dr. Jesper Edman’s views on the future of Japan. Jesper referred to his background as a business economist at the European Institute of Japanese Studies (EIJS) at the Stockholm school of Economics as well as having lived more than 20 years in Japan, as a student, a business man and a post doc researcher.

Jesper’s view was rather positive. He did not focus on government debts, political turmoil or deminishing population. Instead he described changes taking place in Japan. He talked about changes in society concerning the women’s situation, work life balance, as well as ”the second globalization” and innovation in the business sector. On the everyday level there are great changes on the way, observed Jesper. His elegant talk attracted much participation by the audience including e g Minister Takaoka from the Japanese Embassy, former editior and journalist O. Rossander, the chairman of the Japanese Business Men’s Club, Mr. Nishio, to name a few.