Summer in Denmark
2020/7/30
1 A backpacker and the Danish Summer
It was the summer of 1987. 33 years have now passed since I made a whirlwind tour as a backpacker through Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Despite my blurring memory, I still remember vividly one night when I found a reasonable hotel perhaps nearby Copenhagen Central station, where I was luckily able to get a space to sleep. It was on the open floor with so many young travelers my age. Next day, Carlsberg beer factory very generously allowed the young man to see the venue and taste their product free of charge.
Copenhagen Central Station
It was a bit difficult to sleep on that hot summer night. However, in hindsight, I would dare to say, without being afraid of getting misunderstood, it was a luxury. When I compare that summer to the recent four months, I can hardly avoid such an impression. Keeping social distance once you leave your home, has been necessary and makes it rather difficult to communicate in person.
2 Reopening of society
“This time, we must demonstrate solidarity by keeping a distance.” In March, Her Majesty the Queen Margrethe II addressed the Danish people directly. The Government swiftly and effectively introduced a series of shutdown measures including telework, closure of national borders, schools, restaurants, theatres and so on. A wider spread of infection has been prevented. As of July, Denmark is now in the final stage of gradual and careful reopening of society, the last of four different phases.
In accordance with such gradual reopening of society, I have also carefully and steadfastly resumed meeting Danish friends and colleagues in person with mutual due respect for the hygiene standards. Reunions after three to four months have been mostly pleasant and usually start by asking ”how have you been (surviving)?”. Then, we talk about each other’s situation with office, stay-at-home work, nodding to each other, saying “we should remain careful about a second wave and beat it”, “let’s collaborate for development of vaccine and drug”, “mutual travels should become possible soon” and “a next step is the restoration of economy.”
3 A decision by Denmark DESIGNMUSEUM
Among a series of conversations with Danish colleagues from the government, enterprises, mass media, culture and sports as well as with the diplomatic corps here, one of the most impressive stories of experience was told by Ms. Anne-Louise Sommer, Director, Denmark DESIGNMUSEUM. The museum announced the decision to continue the closing and renewal through 2021, while many other museums reopened around early June, although fewer visitors could be expected. Ms. Sommer is a person of ideas and reforms, having increased the number of visitors to DESIGNMUSEUM by fivefold in the past six years. It would prove to be another splendid decision, unique and different from the others.
I had visited DESIGNMUSEUM with my wife many times before its closure in March and we were always warmly welcomed by the stuff, including some intern university students with their smiles and efficient conducts. In the house, there were thousands of artifacts such as contemporary Danish designs and works, the 18th century porcelain of Royal Copenhagen and so on, in an intensive way. We have never been bored even after spending so much time there, on the contrary, the place always made us feel that we discovered something new about Denmark every time.
Photo from DESIGNMUSEUM HP
From 2015 to 2019, DESIGNMUSEUM hosted a special exhibition, “Learning from Japan”. The years coincided with the tenures of the two Japanese Ambassadors, Mr. Seishi Suei (2013-2016) and Mr. Toshiro Suzuki (2016-2019). Ambassador Suei stated at the opening ceremony that he wished someday an exhibition “Learning from Denmark” would be held in Japan.
There is a huge collection of a special part of Japanese swords called “tsuba”. I heard that a Danish doctor at the beginning of the 20th century collected and later on donated them to the museum. If part of such a collection of “tsuba” would be allowed to return home on a temporal basis in 2021 on the occasion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, that would be a dream-come-true occasion. I just hope and imagine that the closure of the museum in 2021 might enhance such possibility..
Photo of Japanese sword “Tsuba” at DESIGNMUSEUM in January
Summer in Denmark this year is said to be cooler than usual and certainly cooler than in Japan. It has been around 12 ℃ early morning and late evening, and sometimes reaches 20℃ during daytime, and sometimes not.
As we could hardly predict the scenario of persistent COVID-19, I wish everyone health and safety. In the meantime, have a refreshing summer vacation.
It was the summer of 1987. 33 years have now passed since I made a whirlwind tour as a backpacker through Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Despite my blurring memory, I still remember vividly one night when I found a reasonable hotel perhaps nearby Copenhagen Central station, where I was luckily able to get a space to sleep. It was on the open floor with so many young travelers my age. Next day, Carlsberg beer factory very generously allowed the young man to see the venue and taste their product free of charge.
Copenhagen Central Station
It was a bit difficult to sleep on that hot summer night. However, in hindsight, I would dare to say, without being afraid of getting misunderstood, it was a luxury. When I compare that summer to the recent four months, I can hardly avoid such an impression. Keeping social distance once you leave your home, has been necessary and makes it rather difficult to communicate in person.
2 Reopening of society
“This time, we must demonstrate solidarity by keeping a distance.” In March, Her Majesty the Queen Margrethe II addressed the Danish people directly. The Government swiftly and effectively introduced a series of shutdown measures including telework, closure of national borders, schools, restaurants, theatres and so on. A wider spread of infection has been prevented. As of July, Denmark is now in the final stage of gradual and careful reopening of society, the last of four different phases.
In accordance with such gradual reopening of society, I have also carefully and steadfastly resumed meeting Danish friends and colleagues in person with mutual due respect for the hygiene standards. Reunions after three to four months have been mostly pleasant and usually start by asking ”how have you been (surviving)?”. Then, we talk about each other’s situation with office, stay-at-home work, nodding to each other, saying “we should remain careful about a second wave and beat it”, “let’s collaborate for development of vaccine and drug”, “mutual travels should become possible soon” and “a next step is the restoration of economy.”
3 A decision by Denmark DESIGNMUSEUM
Among a series of conversations with Danish colleagues from the government, enterprises, mass media, culture and sports as well as with the diplomatic corps here, one of the most impressive stories of experience was told by Ms. Anne-Louise Sommer, Director, Denmark DESIGNMUSEUM. The museum announced the decision to continue the closing and renewal through 2021, while many other museums reopened around early June, although fewer visitors could be expected. Ms. Sommer is a person of ideas and reforms, having increased the number of visitors to DESIGNMUSEUM by fivefold in the past six years. It would prove to be another splendid decision, unique and different from the others.
I had visited DESIGNMUSEUM with my wife many times before its closure in March and we were always warmly welcomed by the stuff, including some intern university students with their smiles and efficient conducts. In the house, there were thousands of artifacts such as contemporary Danish designs and works, the 18th century porcelain of Royal Copenhagen and so on, in an intensive way. We have never been bored even after spending so much time there, on the contrary, the place always made us feel that we discovered something new about Denmark every time.
Photo from DESIGNMUSEUM HP
There is a huge collection of a special part of Japanese swords called “tsuba”. I heard that a Danish doctor at the beginning of the 20th century collected and later on donated them to the museum. If part of such a collection of “tsuba” would be allowed to return home on a temporal basis in 2021 on the occasion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, that would be a dream-come-true occasion. I just hope and imagine that the closure of the museum in 2021 might enhance such possibility..
Photo of Japanese sword “Tsuba” at DESIGNMUSEUM in January
Summer in Denmark this year is said to be cooler than usual and certainly cooler than in Japan. It has been around 12 ℃ early morning and late evening, and sometimes reaches 20℃ during daytime, and sometimes not.
As we could hardly predict the scenario of persistent COVID-19, I wish everyone health and safety. In the meantime, have a refreshing summer vacation.
Embassy of Japan
Manabu MIYAGAWA
Manabu MIYAGAWA