A fateful flatmate

My career at the University of Helsinki began in 1970, when I enrolled at the Faculty of Social Sciences to study international politics. In 1973, with the encouragement of the renowned UN expert Professor Göran von Bonsdorff, I applied to study in the US for a year.

Under the influence of my Japanese flatmate, my interest in the UN soon shifted to Japan, which was already known as the economic wonder of the world. The one-month field trip to Japan that was included in the course left an unforgettable first impression on me as a young student: a friendly people, a clean and beautiful country and a fine traditional culture. After more careful consideration of the background of Japanese culture and society, I considered that in order to understand Japan, I would have to learn about Chinese civilisation, which was the source of many aspects of Japanese culture. For the last four decades, I have shuttled back and forth, first as a student and later in various professional capacities, between Finland and East Asia, to China and Japan in turn – nor is there any end in sight to my sojourns.

By Written by Kauko Laitinen (Kaija Hartikainen ed.), translated by Matthew Billington

Kauko Laitinen

Born May 10, 1951 Kangasniemi

PhD (Sociology) 1985, University of Tokyo
Studies in Japanese language and international relations, 1979–84, Japan
Master of Social Science 1975, University of Helsinki (Political Science)
Studies in Chinese language and history 1975–78, China

University lecturer in Asia-Pacific Studies
Docent in East Asian Studies
Professor of Chinese Studies and director of the Confucius Institute 2014–15, University of Helsinki
Finnish Institute in Japan 2011–14
Confucius Institute 2007–11, University of Helsinki

Research themes:
Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld in Finnish-Japanese relations
Self-governance of islands in the era of regions: comparison between Okinawa and Åland
Finnish-Chinese research collaboration on Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim’s 1906–08 ride across Asia.

Publications, research projects and other academic activity

Special achievements:
Report on the possibility of establishing the Finnish institute in Japan
Initiative and preparatory work for making Asia-Pacific Studies a university subject
Initiative to establish the Confucius Institute at the University of Helsinki

Photo: Mika Federley
Written by Kauko Laitinen (Kaija Hartikainen, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington