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.

Haakon Fossum Sagbakken (Treasurer)
Business developer at Mitsubishi Corporation in Norway. A graduate of Brown University and the University of Oxford, his visits to Japan have been mainly of a holiday character except for an internship in Tokyo, also with a Mitsubishi company. Longstanding interest in Japanese history, film and modern literature.

Shiki Tesaki (Board Member)
Deputy Managing Director of INPEX IDEMITSU NORGE AS, a subsidiary of INPEX CORPORATION, which is a leading energy company. He was born in Shibuya, Tokyo and grew up in Tokyo. He plays soccer and loves his family including one Mikeneko. His favorite Japanese movies are “Seven Samurai”, “Yojinbo” and “Tsubaki Sanjyuro” by Akira Kurosawa and a series of “Otoko wa Tsurai yo” by Yoji Yamada.

Noriko Isaka (Board Member)
Country General Manager, Norway Branch, Sumitomo Corporation Europe, Ltd. Graduated from Tauda University, also studied at University of Kansas in U.S. as one year exchange student. Joined Sumitomo Corporation in 2007. The first visit to Norway was in 2009 on business to Stavanger and Florø. Having lived in both Stavanger and Oslo, she enjoys Norwegian weather, nature, culture and food. The best experience of her holiday was a camping van trip in the south and the west of Norway with her children.

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) Researcher at the Oslo University Hospital. 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.

Ingrid Helene Ludvigsen (Board Member)
Holds a degree in Japanology from the University of Oxford, with a focus on modern literature. She did two stints abroad at Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo and Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. After graduating she lived in Tokyo for six years, working in digital marketing and e-commerce. Since returning to Norway in 2021 she has worked in the tech industry, holding different roles at Microsoft.

Yoko Toda (Board member)
Yoko Toda is a pianist with the Norwegian National Ballet at Den Norske Opera & Ballet. After earning both a bachelor ́s and master ́s degree in piano performance at Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo, she studied abroad at Barratt Due Musikkinstitutt in 2000 with a scholarship from the Rotary Foundation. Involved in establishing the kindergarten division of a Japanese supplementary school in Oslo and served as its founding chairperson. Enjoys walking in the forest with a Shiba Inu, as well as cooking and exercising. Living in Norway has deepened her appreciation for its beautiful nature, and grateful for the opportunity to balance parenting and work under its excellent system.

Lisa Uggedal Holm (Board member)
Lisa Uggedal Holm holds a Master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and works in a related field in Oslo. Her connection to Japan began as a teenager through a high school exchange program, an experience that sparked a lasting commitment to intercultural understanding and cooperation. She has since been an active volunteer with AFS Intercultural Programs and is currently a member of the European Pool of Trainers for EFIL, contributing to intercultural learning and collaboration at a European level. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking - especially Japanese cuisine, handicrafts, and spending time in nature.