The people behind it all
Our business is shaped by our wonderful consultans; their personalities, human traits, overlapping strengths and various exciting backgrounds and experiences add color and texture to our collected working lives – which means better service for you! If you want to know more about any of us, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line!
With one foot rooted solid in art & design and the other in strategy and writing, Stefan is something of an oddity in a traditional creative biz where it often has to be one or the other. After several startups in the design industry, the creative serial entrepreneur has found his place; one foot in the west the other in the east, merging the duality of two different worlds.
Stefan has a degree (BA) in Journalism and Media Technology. His academic background also includes Graphic Design and Visual Communication at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack) and Forsberg’s School of Design in Stockholm, English Linguistics & Literary studies at Stockholm University and Japanese Language & Culture at The Yamasa Institute in Japan.
Special skills include Art Direction, design, illustration, branding & identity, creative concept and business development, web strategy and copywriting.
Mr. Stefan Dellström | CEO, Creative Director
Hideki’s starting point as creative industrial designer with a Master of Arts (MA) from the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack) in Stockholm led him to the exciting area of design management.
Having lived and studied in Sweden, Hideki is passionate about both Sweden and Japan and connecting the two worlds through business and design. He now travels between Tokyo and Stockholm each year, brokering deals between Swedish designers and Japanese manufacturers.
Special skills include project management, design management, CAD and 3D-visualization and modelling
Mr. Hideki Horikoshi | Tokyo Office Manager
Junko is the ultimate project manager and the hub around which everything in the company revolves. She knows every designer’s tiniest details as if it was the back of her hand, and she’s an excellent task manager, coordinator and pedagogue.
Her background as buyer at Japanese interior chain Tokyu Hands and the many years as a language teacher have given her patience, planning skills and an attention to detail. Precious little ever escapes Junko’s attention and we can always count on her to be on top of things, at all times.
Special skills include Project management, Education/Training, Translation, Copywriting, Press & PR Coordination, Administration
Ms. Junko Okazaki | Project Manager
Both scholar and consumate professional, Johan aquired an MBA from the prestigious Gothenburg University School of Business, Economics and Law having already had a solid academic background in journalism. While at university he also qualified for academic exchange with both Kobe, Japan and the prestigeous Fudan Univsersity in Shanghai, China further enhancing his understanding of east asian business culture.
Johan is an excellent strategist – patient and analytical with a naturally humble and reflective personality. He is our resident expert on Social Media and Business Management, and have previously worked as an economy journalist.
Special skills include business management, marketing, business development, journalism and social media strategy
Mr. Johan Wollmar | Consultant
Shinobu supports our Tokyo office with her PR- and coordination skills. She has a background in project management, sales promotion and event planning, with a unique and diverse professional network and a keen sense of trends and new opportunities.
Shinobu also writes, produce designer catalogues and is part of the team behind our own online design store LivingSwedish. She’s a great asset during our exhibitions and promotional activities in Tokyo; always staying cool, calm and collected.
Special skills include Sales promotion, Writing and Content production in Japanese as well as Press/PR-Coordination
Ms. Shinobu Kodera | Sales, PR and Coordination
A born diplomat, Martin had a promising career in advertising, before switching gears and setting his sights on a rather different path as investment advisor at Invest Sweden in Tokyo. He now manages our office that we share with the Embassy of Sweden in Roppongi, and has an extensive business network that have greatly benefited both our Swedish and Japanese clients.
Martin lives permanently in Japan with his Japanese wife, and knows the ins and outs of Japanese business culture to a tee. He is also appointed member in the Communications Committee of The Swedish Trade Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan.
Special skills include Swedish-Japanese Liaison Services, Coordination, Investment & Trade advisory, Japanese Language and Business Culture
Mr. Martin Koos | Trade Advisor
A developer and entrepreneur, for almost 14 years, Johan was the go to guy for global computer giantSun Microsystems. He has worked for SUN in both Stockholm and Tokyo, but now retains a permanent base in Sweden with his Japanese wife and two children. He is a master programmer and Graphic User Interface (GUI) developer with a deep understanding of Japanese language and culture.
Special skills include Programming, Web Development, Japanese Language and Culture
Mr. Johan Rhedin | CTO