My interest in Japan stems from my interest in Japanese tea. It has been through tea that I’ve gotten to know the Japanese culture, its rich history, and its people. It took some time before I learned how to appreciate Japanese tea, but once I did it surely turned into a love story. It was actually a Japanese friend who convinced me to become a certified tea instructor. I found that the thought of working with tea on a daily basis would suit me perfectly, and I started dreaming about bringing Japanese tea culture to Sweden. However, getting my certificate as an instructor came with some challenges. The course literature was only available in Japanese and I was told that only 30 per cent passed the final exam. There were hard times, but my interest for Japanese tea never ceased and eventually I got my certificate.

I think my interest in tea has helped me integrate easier into Japanese society. It functions as an icebreaker, and I think Japanese people are quite fascinated by my dedication to this very Japanese cultural product. As a result, I have gotten the chance to meet many interesting people, which has also helped me pursue a career as a Swedish-Japanese tea instructor.

As one of few foreigners to be a certified Japanese tea instructor, I have naturally become a representative for Sweden in the world of tea. In Japan I’m often referred to as “the blue-eyed tea evangelist”. My cultural experiences are giving me the chance to bring Sweden and Japan closer and I would love to do more promotion of Japanese tea to a Swedish audience. The Swedish “fika” culture of taking time to sit down and enjoy sweets and drinks is quite compatible with the culture surrounding Japanese tea. Japanese tea is also excellent to pair with chocolate and cookies, so there is potential to bridge the two countries’ traditions. I want to encourage people to consider it more as a pleasure drink, like wine or coffee.

What I love about this industry is that Japanese tea doesn’t only carry tradition and culture, but also something that is evolving all the time. Tea is contemporary yet traditional, and the curiosity around it is growing worldwide, bringing cultures together.

I would love to serve Japanese tea at the Nobel Banquet! The Nobel Prize is arguably one of the most well-known Swedish features, especially in Japan. Since tea is something that I think connects east and west, it is a great symbolic thing for people to meet around.