Episode 14: When your main exports are spooky hippos and metal music

Creator of Very Finnish Problems Joel Willans returns with a conversation on how and why Finland is big in Japan with project manager, exports specialist Sami Häikiö. We learn about the strides being made to bring Moomin to the world and the peculiarities of booking metal gigs in Tokyo. Co-host Thomas Nybergh deals with troublesome Nipponese electronics and contributes the bleakest recommendation segment yet. Contact: veryfinnishproblems@inktank.fi Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media Shownotes: Joel’s new book: More Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/ Are Finland and Japan obsessed with each other?: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/are-finland-and-japan-obsessed-with-each-other/ On Japan’s love of fax machines (New York Times, 2013): https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/world/asia/in-japan-the-fax-machine-is-anything-but-a-relic.html It’s 2016 And I’m Buying A New Japanese Fax Machine: https://kotaku.com/its-2016-and-im-buying-a-new-japanese-fax-machine-1785288793 An overview of new Finnish rock and metal: https://musicfinland.com/playlists/new-rock-and-metal-from-finland What you should know about the Japanese music market (2015): https://mxd.dk/arkiv/what-you-should-know-about-the-japanese-music-market-in-depth/ The Guardian reviews ‘Who Will Comfort Toffle?’, a delightful moomin picture book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/nov/01/featuresreviews.guardianreview30 Kirkus review of Moominpappa at Sea, the most grown-up novel in the Moomin canon: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tove-jansson-2/moominpappa-at-sea/ About the Fermi Paradox, the possibility that the universe is surprisingly devoid of (intelligent) life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhhvQGsMEc Thomas’ podcast recommendation, The End of the World With Josh Clark: https://www.theendwithjosh.com/ Thomas’ 2nd recommendation: Kidding, superbly written dark comedy drama series starring Jim Carrey, Catherine Keener and many others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS6Gt76e_NA Joel’s recommendation, Kitchen Nightmares: https://www.youtube.com/user/KitchenNightmares Sami’s recommendation, Sons of Anarchy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Anarchy Sami's second recommendation, Japan Times, excellent news reporting in English: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/ Sami’s old band, Karkkiautomaatti on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HbjhoqYElSXZsak99LAkR Sami's old band, Karkkiautomaaatti on Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/fi/artist/karkkiautomaatti/265592886