As part of the 160th anniversary celebrations, the Swiss Vitality Days 2024 engaged multiple Swiss and Japanese stakeholders, creating a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange from mid-September to October 2024 in both Tokyo, Osaka, Nara, and more. Through this initiative we explored the concept of Vitality from various angles, including research, academia, business, governance, economy, finance, culture, and the arts.​

During the Swiss Vitality Days 2024, experts, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, industry leaders, government representatives, and cultural practitioners from both countries came together to discuss energy breakthroughs, emerging trends in life sciences, quantum computing, biodiversity, and more.

From energy breakthroughs, to emerging trends in life sciences, biodiversity, healthy ageing, durable food systems and more, we hoped to accelerate co-creation and cross-pollination, fostering more vital and sustainable societies.

The event lineup featured the Swiss-Japan Energy Days, a special edition of the Switzerland-Japan Economic Forum, an art x sustainability initiative in the Nara forest, a pavilion at BioJapan showcasing cutting-edge startups, a scientific panel on longevity, an art project across Tokyo and the museum Photo Elysée in Lausanne, an amateur photo competition open to the public, and the Swiss Cinema Days, among others.

Check out the reports about the events here

Amateur Photo Competition - August 22 to October 24

The “Vitality Through Your Eyes” amateur photo contest invited photography enthusiasts to showcase their unique interpretations of vitality, with the aim of fostering dialogue and co-creation while deepening cultural ties between Switzerland and Japan. Participants were encouraged to creatively capture what vitality means for them. From among 93 applications, 7 works were chosen by a jury consisting of the Swiss Ambassador’s spouse, Ingrid Dubach-Lemainque, the President of SHIBAURA HOUSE, Masaru Ito and photographers, Sawako Fukai, Taisuke Koyama and Basil Kräher. The winning photographs were exhibited for two weeks at SHIBAURA HOUSE, with an award ceremony to be held on October 11.

Exhibition Date & Venue: October 9 - 24, 2024, SHIBAURA HOUSE, Tokyo
Award Ceremony: October 11, 2024, SHIBAURA HOUSE Tokyo
Organizers: Embassy of Switzerland in Japan and SHIBAURA HOUSE

Swiss-Japan Energy Days - September 10 and 11 

Switzerland and Japan face significant energy and climate challenges. With the anticipated rise in electricity consumption due to electrification and the dependence on energy imports, both nations must strategically realign toward decarbonization to achieve the 2050 net-zero emissions target. The Swiss-Japan Energy Days, held concurrently at ETH Zurich and Swissnex in Japan, will convene leading academics, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore innovative energy solutions.

Venues & Organizers: Consulate of Switzerland in Japan / Swissnex in Japan and the Energy Science Center of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich)

‘Super Natural!’ exhibition - September 11- October 9

Pristine, precise and prosperous; attractive, safe and reliable – Switzerland and Japan have much in common in the collective imagination. “Super Natural!” highlighted this mutual fascination through the eyes of photographers of both countries, focusing on sustainability and health. The exhibition explored the cultural seeds, underlying myths and narrative dynamics that foster this remarkable image. Most importantly, it asked how we can reclaim these myths to better address today’s challenges. By looking into one another’s mirror, both countries may be able to better understand themselves by questioning the image they transmit.

Participating artists: Rumi Ando, Esther Vonplon, Keita Kojima, Taisuke Koyama, Delphine Bertin, and Maxime Guyon.
Opening Talk & Reception : Friday, September 13, 18:00 Venue: YAU CENTER｜Yurakucho Art Urbanism YAU, Tokyo

Organizers: Photo Elysée, TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH and the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan

Innovative Aging: Economic Vitality in an Aging Society - September 16

On September 16, 2024, Swissnex in Japan organized a round table on innovative aging on Respect for the Aged Day. Experts discussed strategies for maintaining economic vitality in the face of aging populations, centering on the demographic shifts affecting Switzerland and Japan, two countries grappling with shrinking workforces and rising old-age dependency ratios. Participants explored innovative policies, the role of continuous education, and how to adapt workforces to meet the challenges posed by aging societies.

Venue & Organizer: Consulate of Switzerland in Osaka / Swissnex in Japan

Healthy Longevity: Lessons from Japan and Switzerland - September 17

On September 17, 2024, just a day after Japan celebrated Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday honoring the contributions of older citizens, the Swiss Residence in Tokyo hosted an event focused on healthy longevity. Experts from Switzerland and Japan – two global leaders in healthy ageing – gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities of ageing populations. The event, part of the Swiss Vitality Days, brought together high-profile attendees working on healthy longevity, addressing challenges faced by ageing societies and exploring avenues for a more inclusive future.

Organizer: Science and Technology Office Tokyo

Travel Switzerland in the “Swisstainable” way - September 24

Switzerland Tourism Japan, together with Swiss Travel System and RailEurope showcased the best way to discover Switzerland as well as the most sustainable way, by train bus and boat, to contacts within the tourism industry. Examples of Sustainability practices were shown with a strong focus on the Swisstainable movement of Switzerland Tourism.

Organizer: Switzerland Tourism Japan

Talk event with Kazu Huggler in dialogue with Kazushige Ogawa - October 4

On October 4, 2024, Swiss-Japanese fashion designer Kazu Huggler and Creative Producer Kazushige Ogawa held an engaging talk at the Swiss Ambassador’s residence. The event, attended by over 60 guests, featured a presentation by Huggler, who shared insights into her work and her documentary “Hodoku – Unstitch”, followed by a discussion with Ogawa on the intersection of fashion, history, and social issues. The conversation also explored fashion’s role in addressing societal topics like gender equality and sustainability, with Huggler’s brand TAN representing a balance between tradition and innovation. The evening concluded with a reception, where guests continued discussions on fashion’s potential to drive cultural and social change. 

Switzerland-Japan Economic Forum 2024 - October 9

The Switzerland-Japan Economic Forum 2024 seeks to enhance awareness and understanding of biodiversity loss, its impact and the urgent need for action to regenerate nature and increase resilience. It brought together business, academic and government leaders from Switzerland and Japan to discuss how we can drive the unavoidable transformation to a nature-positive economy. The Forum aimed to showcase recent initiatives to inspire the research of innovative solutions and stimulate action.

Venue: Tokyo Midtown Hall B, Tokyo
Organizers: Embassy of Switzerland in Japan and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, with support by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)

SWISS PAVILION @ BIOJAPAN 2024 - October 9-11

The Swiss Pavilion at BioJapan 2024, held from October 9 to 11, 2024, at Pacifico Yokohama in Kanagawa, Japan, was a resounding success. Organized by Swiss Business Hub Japan and Switzerland Global Enterprise, the pavilion was part of the Swiss Vitality Days, celebrating 160 years of Swiss-Japanese relations.

Venue: Pacifico Yokohama, Kanagawa
Organizers: Swiss Business Hub Japan & Switzerland Global Enterprise

Swing Kids Japan Tour 2024 - October 10

The Swing Kids, Switzerland’s acclaimed children’s jazz band, took the stage at Ebara Cultural Center on October 10. Aged 9 to 17, these young musicians have charmed audiences across Europe and Japan under the guidance of Dai Kimoto, a Japanese trumpeter based in Switzerland. They have a long-lasting heartfelt connection to Japan, having supported communities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Venue: Ebara Cultural Center, Tokyo

Swiss Cinema Days: Documentary Screening “Umi No Oya - 海の親” - October 11

Swiss artist and chef Maya Minder with author and curator Ewen Chardronnet investigate in their work the potential of algae in the ecological transition. In this documentary essay, they explore the legacy of British algologist Kathleen Drew-Baker, whose crucial scientific discovery in 1949 about the life cycles of red algae contributed to the rise of nori aquaculture in post-war Japan. The film pays tribute to Drew as Umi No Oya (海の親) - the mother of the sea - and looks for inspiration in the resilience she instilled in post-war Kyushu to face the new challenges of climate change. On October 11, a preview screening of the film was held at Shibaura House where the film was partly shot.

Venue: SHIBAURA HOUSE, Tokyo
Organizers: SHIBAURA HOUSE and the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan

Giving a voice to ecosystems Markus Mader @ YOSHINO 20 ART FESTIVAL - October 12 to November 4

In 2023, artist and researcher Marcus Maeder (PhD ETH Zurich) installed IoT sensors on trees in the forest of Nara prefecture to measure growth, drought stress and other environmental factors. He uses the collected data to build artistic experiences that shed light on climate change in a surprising, informed and accessible way. For this new stage of the project, Marcus Maeder produced a new art-science intervention in a century-old temple in Yoshino, and gave conferences and performances in Tokyo to raise awareness about the effects of climate change on ecosystems.

Venue: Mount Yoshino, Yoshino, Nara
Organizers: Yoshino Town, Yoshino Visitors Bureau, Yoshino-Omine World Heritage 20th Anniversary Commemorative Project Council

Kizuna “Open your eyes” - October 13 and 14

On October 13th and 14th, 2024, the grand art project “KIZUNA” was unveiled at the Garaman Hall of the Ginoza Cultural Center! This powerful collaboration between artists from Okinawa and Neuchâtel, Switzerland, brought to life an epic tale of interconnected lives and captivated sold-out audiences with each performance, leaving an unforgettable impression.

Since its inception in 2021, this project has explored the beauty of collaboration and the promise of a shared future, culminating in this remarkable production. The project includes Melinda Stampfli (choreography and direction), Cédric Brégnard (scenic design), Laurence Crevoisier (music), Yuji Noguchi (stage direction), and Laurent Novac (videomapping). Performers include Okinawan dancer Tomoko Kin, Ballet Art Tang, Nago Boys and Girls Chorus, and traditional artists Soukei Mijitaya and LUCK.

Venue: Garaman Hall in Ginoza (Okinawa)
Organizer: Kizuna Co-creation Team

Swiss Cinema Days: 9th nexCafé: Playing at Being Human - October 16

Playing at Being Human is an artistic-philosophical experiment that explores the crisis of anthropocentrism by rethinking the relationship between humans and non-humans, both living and technical. Swissnex in Japan hosted an event that delved into the boundaries between humanity, technology, and the natural world. The program featured two video artworks that served as a catalyst for deep discussion on anthropocentrism and human identity with directors Frank Westermeyer, artist and associate professor at HEAD–Geneva, and David Zerbib, lecturer in Philosophy of Art at HEAD–Geneva.

Venue & Organizer: Consulate of Switzerland in Osaka / Swissnex in Japan

Swiss Cinema Days: Projection and Talk with Kuniko Satonobu Spirig “Teruko Yokoi – Art in the Making”  - October 23

The Swiss Cinema Days featured a special screening of “Teruko Yokoi – Art in the Making” to mark the 100th anniversary of the Japanese artist’s birth. The film, which delves into Yokoi’s artistic journey from the U.S. and Paris to her later years in Bern, was well-received by attendees. Following the screening, Kuniko Satonobu Spirig led a thought-provoking talk with Ingrid Dubach-Lemainque, offering deeper insights into Yokoi’s life and creative process. The event provided a unique opportunity to celebrate Yokoi’s lasting impact on both Japanese and Swiss art. Overall, the evening was a fitting tribute to the artist, drawing a diverse audience and sparking meaningful conversation. 

Swiss Cinema Days: Documentary Screening “Johan, L’épreuve du feu” - October 26, 2024

On October 26 at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, an enthusiastic audience experienced the compelling documentary chronicling the journey of Swiss blacksmith and Vitality Ambassador Johan Leutwiler. The screening was followed by an engaging Q&A session featuring Johan Leutwiler, director Romain Guélat, MC John Haggerty, and Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Festival Director Seigo Tono.

Originally from the city of Monthey in Valais, Johan Leutwiler devoted half his life to his goal of becoming a Japanese sword smith. Swiss director Romain Guelat depicts his journey as the first foreigner to be officially recognized a Japanese swordsmith.

Venue: Tokyo Photographic Museum Hall
Organizer: Short Shorts Executive Committee & Embassy of Switzerland in Japan

You can find the reports about the various events of the Swiss Vitality Days under the Articles tab

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