Tisko Tansi

Finnish disco tanssi
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Ethnology: As a native of Finland he is extremely durable to cold weather

Do the Japanese and the Finns have anything in common? Well, to a non-Finn and non-Japanese their respective languages might sound sort of similar or at least equally strange and difficult. What more? Both nationalities have a reputation of being reserved* and shy. There are also similarities in some of the design styles of these countries. With Nokia developing into a giant of a company both countries now rely heavily on hi-tech industry. You can probably find more things they have in common (pls comment!).

Read about Marutei Tsurunen, an ex-Finn who was born Martti Turunen. 38 years ago he went to Japan as a Lutheran missionary and now he is still there but with an other mission...

* Swedes also has that reputation but the Finns and the Japanese take it to another level.



Thanks to Mr Feckenbrenner

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Det finska köket

Finland slår tillbaka i matkriget (SvD)

Kalakukko is traditional Savonian food made out of fish baked inside a bread. Cornish pastry in Cornwall has the same basic idea of packed lunch.

Traditionally, Kalakukko is prepared with rye flour, although wheat is often added to make the dough more pliable. The filling consists of fish, pork and green bacon, and is flavoured with dill and salt (unless the pork is already salted). After being baked for several hours, kalakukko looks much like a large loaf of rye bread, although the name implies that it is somehow supposed to look like a rooster. If prepared correctly, kalakukko will keep for a long time. The appropriate drink to accompany kalakukko is buttermilk or piimä.

The modern society finds the name somewhat amusing, as "Kala" is Finnish for "fish" and "kukko" is Finnish for "rooster". However, the old meaning for Kukko is also connected to hiding things, as in 'kukkaro' (purse).