The Japan-Norway Society (J-NS) is a membership-based society established in 1977. The aim is to promote friendly relations, mutual understanding and cultural interchange between the people of Japan and Norway.  In order to do so, we organize various activities and events. Our members consist of individuals, families and corporations from Norway, Japan and other nationalities living in Norway. Our vision is to be a platform for all members to interact, connect and be part of the Japan-Norway community in Norway. 

Board of Directors

Ingrid Fjeldsenden (President)
A board member since 2018 and takes over as President from Per Bardalen Wiggen. Ingrid Fjeldsenden is financial manager at National Police Immigration Service in Norway since 2011. She studied Japanese in Bergen and Japan and is a graduate from the Norwegian School of Economics and Graduate School of International Development at Nagoya University. Lived and studied in Nagasaki for 1 ½ years. During her years on the board, she has focused especially on developing the Business Benkyokai and cultural events, as well as organizing nature walks.

Christian Tjørve (Treasurer)
A graduate of the Norwegian School of Economics, and the University of Bergen with exchange studies at Keio University and Hokkaido University of Education. Lived and worked for 5 years in Japan before returning to Norway in 2021. Currently working as a Senior Controller at FREYR Battery. Enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing and spending time in nature as well as both eating and cooking good food.

Yukiyo Ikeda (Board Member)
Managing Director of INPEX-Idemitsu Norge AS, a subsidiary of INPEX Corporation, which is Japan’s largest oil and gas exploration and development company. Has spent more than half of her career outside of Japan, including the US, Indonesia, and Singapore before starting to work in Oslo in February 2022. She loves classical music and plays the flute as a hobby. She is also enthusiastic about traveling abroad and has visited nearly 60 countries so far. She looks forward to traveling around beautiful Norway.

Kaori Ishii (Board Member)
Former sales and taste promoter at the Europe's first Sake Brewery, Nøgne Ø. Conducts Sake Sommelier Courses. Has had extensive work experience with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Developing Programme.  Worked and studied in Tokyo, Sydney, Brisbane, Yangon, Lusaka, Johannesburg, New York, Tampa, Oslo and Helsinki before moving back to Oslo in 2015. She also spent an extensive period in Windhoek during the COVID lockdown years. Considers Norway her second home. Alma Mater: Keio University and University of Witwatersrand Business School. Enjoys experimenting with sake-food pairings with seasonal Norwegian ingredients. Adores Norwegian nature. Board member since 2016.

Tadahisa (Ted) Matsuda (Board Member)
Country General Manager at Sumitomo Corporation Europe Ltd Norway Branch. Stationed in Saudi Arabia and in London before. Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido with towel on my head in hot spring, and skis on my feet, but beginner of cross country skiing here. Loves Wine, Sushi, Ramen Noodle, and Wife. Get addicted to Berry Picking and Kantarell Hunting in Marka with JNS friends.

Hajime Matsumura (Board Member)
Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Oslo. Educated in Waseda University in Tokyo and University of Oslo. Posted to the Embassy of Japan in Oslo (2 times, totally 11 years), Copenhagen, Tallinn and New Delhi. Started to work again at the Embassy of Japan in Oslo for the third time since late January 2021. Looking forward to enjoying Norwegian culture and food, driving in great nature of Norway and taking photos of breathtaking beautiful scenery. 

Ulrike Münzner (Board Member) Bioinformatician at Nykode Therapeutics in Oslo. She graduated from Linköping University in Sweden and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and has a background in systems biology. She went to Japan initially with a JSPS-fellowship and worked at Kyoto University and Osaka University for four years in total. She enjoys Japanese food, sake, and hiking in Japan and Norway. She also practices kyudo.

Yasuko Oki (Board Member)
Master florist. Lecturer of Japanese Tea Ceremony at Omotesenke. Lecturer of Mami Flower Design School. Freelancer as master florist, course holder, coordinator, writer and blogger. Graduate from Hosei University and Staatliche Fachschule fuer Blumenkunst Weihenstephan in Germany. Exchange student from Germany to Norway for 3 months in 2005. Conducted Japanese Tea Ceremony and Japanese floral design courses in Germany, Italy and Norway. Board member since 2016.

Kaya Rist (Board Member)
User experience designer for F24 Nordics in Trondheim. She graduated from Temple University’s Japan Campus (2020) in Media and Communications and Visual Arts. She returned to Norway in spring 2020 after having also studied in Italy. She participated in the Temple University Cross Cultures program in 2018, teaching elementary students about Norwegian culture. Long standing interest in the Japanese language, arts and pop culture, food and travel.

Henrik Thon Bardum (Board Member)
Henrik holds a Master's degree from the University of Oslo in East Asian Regional Studies and has been employed as an Adviser in the Information and Culture Section at the Embassy of Japan in Oslo since 2007. He also has a background in studying Japanese, having pursued language studies at Hokkaido Tokai University and Keio University. Additionally, he is a film enthusiast with a particular interest in the works of Japanese directors Takeshi Kitano, Hiroyuki Tanaka, and Hirokazu Koreeda. Henrik firmly believes in the potential of cultural synchronisation, exemplified by the emergence and growth of Norwegian manga.