“Happiness” is being able to live without worries and with peace of mind.

-- That's a wonderful childhood experience in nature! I imagine it must have been difficult to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, but what do you think of Japan's nature?

Orpana: Unfortunately, I've only been to cities, so I haven't been able to experience much of Japan's nature. I went to the mountainous areas of Nagano Prefecture and Kumamoto Castle. Also in Hokkaido in the summer. Hokkaido has a similar climate and climate to Finland, and I felt nostalgic about it.

-- Be sure to check out Riviera Seabornia Marina, located at the tip of the Miura Peninsula in the calm waters of Koajiro Bay. The Koajiro Forest, spreading deep into the bay, is a globally precious "miracle forest" with a stream flowing along the valley, and a continuous watershed that flows from the deep forest to the marshes, tidal flats, and finally the sea. Many living creatures, including rare species, form a diverse ecosystem. Local residents, local government, and private businesses have joined forces to conserve the area, and now there are no roads or houses except for well-maintained walking paths. Riviera has long been an active participant in conservation efforts, and this has been further accelerated with the "Riviera Future Project," which began in 2006.

Orpana: That's interesting. Is it close to Tokyo?

Access by car has improved, with the journey taking just 80 minutes. The marina is also home to the historic wooden sailing ship Cinara, which Riviera successfully restored over a period of six and a half years, with 50 craftsmen from 12 countries invited to Miura, Kanagawa Prefecture. This extremely sustainable vessel won the Sailboat Restoration of the Year (over 40) award at the UK's Classic Boat Awards 2021.

Orpana: As Finland, a maritime nation that places great importance on sustainability, I would definitely like to see "Sinara."

-- You have a 40-year career as a diplomat. Of the many countries you have visited, which one left the biggest impression on you?

Orpana: Every country has its own characteristics, so I can't really choose one over the other, but California, where I spent time as an exchange student in high school, left a deep impression on me. Also, working in the Republic of South Africa, where I lived from 1997 to 2001, was deeply moving.
When I took office, it had been three years since Nelson Mandela became president. It was a valuable experience to witness how a nation is dynamically changing. It was wonderful to see people who had suffered from oppression win democracy and equality under the law, and the whole country was reborn in a positive way.
Also, the country of South Africa is a treasure trove of nature. Pretoria, where the government is located, is a big city, but once you leave the city, you can easily access the eternal nature. It's one of the great attractions of that country.

-- The marinas in South Africa, Finland and the Riviera all seem to have something in common in that they are all close to the city and nature.

-- Nautor's Swan is one of the world's leading companies born in Finland. What does marine life and Nautor's Swan mean to the people of Finland?

Olpana: In addition to the geographical environment with a long coastline and numerous islands, we also have the right to enjoy nature, so I think many Finns are familiar with marine life. Nowadays, there are many other leisure activities and sports, so sailing and other marine sports are still very popular, although not as much as they used to be. There is a long tradition of boat building, and for those who love boats, Nautor's Swan boats are a dream come true. Many Finns are proud of the world's best products produced by their country. When it comes to cars, it's the Rolls-Royce for the British.

-- That's a common opinion among enthusiasts around the world.

Orpana: The reason why Nautor's Swan ships are so beloved and proud of the nation is the Finnish attitude towards quality and functionality. Product design that focuses on functional beauty without relying on extravagance suits the Finnish temperament. This applies not only to ships but also to industrial products in general.

-- As part of the Riviera Future Project, Riviera's marine education program aimed at young people who will be the leaders of the future has already been experienced by more than 6000 children.

Finland, home to Nautor's Swan, is undoubtedly an advanced country in marine activities. How about getting involved in marine education and marine sports? Orpana There is a ``Citizen Education Center'' as a service provided by the local government that anyone can attend for a small fee, regardless of age or academic background. For example, in the vicinity of Saaristomeli, which is home to numerous islands, it is the responsibility of the local government to respond to the needs of residents who want to learn about sailing and motorboats. Therefore, we have created an environment where you can take courses at a reasonable price.

-- It's well known that Finland has made tuition free from elementary school to university, but who would have thought that you could even learn how to operate a pleasure boat as part of a public service?

As you might expect from a country that ranks number one in terms of happiness. Orpana Finland has been ranked number one in the United Nations' World Happiness Ranking for four consecutive years (announced in March 4 as number one for five consecutive years). The report measures subjective well-being and attempts to explain each country's score using social factors such as good governance, trust, freedom and equality. I think that when people feel happy, it is when they finally have no worries and can live their lives in peace. Although happiness cannot be measured solely by the presence or absence of public services, it is certain that the presence or absence of public services increases people's well-being.

Orpana: One of the reasons for the positive attitude towards free and inclusive education is that Finland has a population of only 550 million people. In order to maintain our well-being and competitiveness, each of us, men and women, young and old, must acquire a certain level of ability and become a ``human asset.''

-- We have always wanted to be a "small but elite" company that is imbued with Rivieraism. At Riviera, we put the most effort into enhancing the capabilities of each employee and honing their human qualities. We've heard that the company is actively investing in vocational training for job changes and lifelong learning for people after retirement.

Orpana: Recurrent education is not just something that concerns a particular period or age in one's professional life, but can be accessed at any time in one's life. In Finland, it has become the social consensus. There is absolutely nothing against the country investing in education. Tuition is free because no one should be denied the opportunity to learn due to financial circumstances. Because you can receive the same level of public education no matter what city you live in, on the other hand, there are almost no private schools.

-- This is a thought-provoking story for Japanese society, where the widening educational gap due to differences in parental income is a problem.

Orpana: Our commitment to equal opportunities in education and skill development is directly linked to our national strength. If the skills of the people in general did not improve, companies like Nokia, the telecommunications equipment giant, would not have been created. Investment in education also promoted gender equality. In recent years, more than half of those wishing to attend university are women. The majority of women work outside the home. Although the number of women in corporate and managerial positions is increasing, challenges still remain.

-- The current Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, is your country's third female prime minister. And she's only 36! I think that's amazing.

Orpana: Well, it's not just age or gender that's important. It depends on whether the person has the ability and qualities to be a leader.
Equal opportunities for all and acceptance of diversity make society as a whole innovative and strong.
The costs must be borne by society as a whole, but both citizens and businesses are happy to pay taxes. This is because you can see that your tax dollars are being used effectively, and you can feel that the money is being returned not only to education but also to other social welfare fields.
From a company's perspective, if the number of highly educated people increases, it will be easier to hire personnel who can work immediately. One of Finland's strengths is a well-functioning ecosystem of cooperation between companies, higher education institutions, and research institutes.

--Finland also ranked first in the 2021 SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) achievement ranking published by the United Nations and the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Orpana: The SDGs involve all members of society, from governments to businesses to individuals, and it is important that everyone plays their role and contributes. Strong corporate support is essential to achieving the SDGs. It must be accompanied by concrete actions, not just words. A positive attitude and awareness of change is key.

-- You spoke at the Riviera SDGs Festival. I feel that many people were inspired by the various initiatives in Finland that you introduced in your speech.

Orpana: Through participation in the Riviera SDGs Festival and dialogue with Chairman Watanabe, we learned that Riviera is taking thorough measures to achieve the SDGs by collecting ocean plastic, achieving zero waste through circular farming, and reducing CO2 emissions. I found out about this and thought it was wonderful. I got the impression that they were recognized for their various activities and were expanding their circle of empathy in the local community.

-- For Riviera, working on the SDGs is not something that they started because they were jumping on the trend. Living in harmony with nature, cherishing and refining old things, and developing people who will carry on the next generation are all things that we have been doing since 2006, and before they are social contributions, they are directly connected to our core business. In fact, without these efforts, we would not be able to sustain our business. That's how we see it.

Orpana: In the long term, if we achieve the SDGs, everyone will benefit in that the world will be a safer, more equal and better place. That's why all of us, including businesses, should pursue them even if there is no direct benefit. This is equally true at the national, corporate and individual level.
Of course, it would be even better if companies could also use SDG activities as a marketing tool to increase motivation in terms of commercial profits. Customers and consumers are becoming more and more environmentally conscious and demanding. Promoting the SDGs is a win-win situation for everyone.

-- So you're saying that you want to use the benefits you gain to benefit society as a whole.

Orpana: I could feel that in Riviera's Attitude.

-- Thank you for your encouraging words. We will continue to aim to balance profit-making business with social contribution. Your country has set an example of this throughout the nation.