Swiss Things

Swiss traditions reimagined through Japanese life If you’ve ever visited Japan, you’ve probably encountered the country’s legendary high-tech toilets. And if you haven’t, somebody has almost certainly told you about them in the tone normally reserved for spiritual awakenings. 'Heated seats!' 'Automatic lids!' 'It plays waterfall sounds while you do your business!' Western travel articles and blog posts love describing Japanese toilets as 'like operating a Boeing cockpit,' whi

Switzerland’s demographics and cultural evolution In recent years, something has caught my attention whenever I visit Switzerland. Increasingly, I’m greeted not in Swiss German, but in standard High German – proper, crisp, newsreader-level High German. In shops. In restaurants. On support lines. Everywhere. For those unfamiliar: Swiss German is a spoken language, and it differs considerably from standard High German, which in Switzerland is mainly reserved for writing – and t

Swiss diaspora life and cultural identity abroad I recently realised something mildly unsettling. I'm officially one of the 340,000 Swiss people who have emigrated since 1993. That’s right. I’m not special. I’m a data point. According to the latest figures, more than 838,600 Swiss nationals live abroad — about 11% of the population. Roughly one in nine Swiss people has looked at Switzerland, nodded politely, and said, “Lovely country. I’ll take it… but from a distance.” Which

Swiss winter culture meets modern quirks Even high up in the Swiss Alps, winter is drawing to a close – finally, most will agree. The Olympians and Paralympians towards the south of the border have returned home – with or without medals – and what's on most people's mind now is where to catch some guaranteed summer sun this year. Yes, Switzerland likes to think of itself a a winter sports nation, but essentially, winter sports happen only in winter. Makes sense. Yet, somewher

Swiss geography, identity, and cultural contrasts As a Swiss person living in Japan, I’m occasionally reminded that my homeland is famous for two things: mountains and not having a coastline. Ah, and chocolate and cheese. So, four things. And neutrality. Five. But definitely not beaches. Japan, meanwhile, is basically all coastline. Fish is fresh. Sea breezes are real. Children grow up knowing which direction the ocean is. In Switzerland, we grow up knowing which direction th

Emigration, identity, and Swiss diaspora stories In 2026, I will have lived in Japan for 30 years. Thirty years. Long enough to forget that Sundays once meant closed shops, but still short enough to be asked, every now and then, when 'I’m going back home.' What I only realised recently is that this urge to leave Switzerland – to look over the mountains and think maybe somewhere else would be nice – is not a modern phenomenon at all. It’s about 2,000 years old. What I’m refer

Swiss politics and humility from afar On December 10, Switzerland’s parliament elected Economics Minister Guy Parmelin as president for 2026. If your immediate reaction to this news was a polite nod followed by 'Wait, Switzerland has a president?'. Congratulations, you are responding correctly. Because Switzerland’s presidency is one of the most Swiss things imaginable. It exists, it functions perfectly, and it makes absolutely no fuss about itself. In most countries, becomin

Swiss food, nostalgia, and economic quirks It’s that magical time of year again – the air is crisp, the leaves are turning gold, and my inner Swiss is screaming for those Swiss delights that remind me of my childhood. Yes, winter is here, and with it comes the irresistible craving for raclette and fondue, those glorious dairy-based dishes that warm both the belly and the soul. So off I trotted to our favourite upscale supermarket, visions of bubbling cheese and crusty bread d

Swiss politics and identity through cultural symbols There are moments in life when you realise just how differently countries operate. Take car licence plates, for instance. Here are some facts about Swiss number plates that may surprise you. 🏷️ 1. Licence Plates for Life – Like Marriage, But More Binding In most countries, plates belong to the car. Easy. Logical. Efficient. Predictable. Switzerland looked at that idea and said: “Nein. Too easy.” In Switzerland, your plates

Swiss politics seen from a Japanese perspective Last month, I once again did my civic duty (or privilege, as I prefer to view it) as a Swiss citizen: I voted in a national referendum. Other countries argue over national elections every few years and then leave it to the lawmakers to make the actual decisions. But not so in Switzerland, where democracy is served four times a year, fondue-style, and every citizen is invited to dip their bread into the bubbling pot of policy. On

Swiss traditions and identity viewed from Japan So, here's a fun fact: around 11% of Swiss citizens live abroad. That's right – roughly one in ten people born in the land of cheese, Toblerone, and punctual trains have packed their bags and said "Thanks, but I'm off." And the trend is up. Now, this might come as a shock. After all, Switzerland is often seen as an Alpine utopia (albeit an expensive one!) – a place where cows wear bells, mountains look like postcards, and everyt

Swiss order meets Japanese social expectations Switzerland’s flag is basically the peak of minimalist design - sleek, square, and effortlessly stylish. While other countries went wild with complicated patterns that could win an embroidery contest, Switzerland kept it simple: red background, white cross, no unnecessary fluff. It’s the flag equivalent of an espresso - unapologetically strong, practical, and secretly judging anyone who adds cream. But the Swiss flag nearly took

Swiss unity, politics, and cultural identity abroad The contrast couldn't be more dramatic. In the world's richest and most powerful country, a president has taken office who is determined to use every inch of executive power to push through his agenda, with the world watching on in bemusement. Meanwhile, in the rich - but somewhat less powerful - Switzerland (more"chocolate and watches" than "global dominance"), it's not always clear what the president and her government col

Swiss citizenship debates from a Japanese vantage point Being in an international marriage comes with its fair share of complications, and no, I’m not talking about clashing cultures or language barriers - after all, plenty of couples share a nationality and still can’t agree on the correct way to load a dishwasher. No, I’m talking about the practical implications of navigating two different passports. On paper, both my wife and I are the proud holders of travel documents

Swiss traditions, food pride, and cultural nostalgia When you hear "Fondue", you probably think of the Swiss classic: cheese fondue – dipping bread into a pot of melted Gruyere and Emmenthal, with a splash (or two) of white wine and Kirsch liquor, all bubbling away at your table. But come Christmas and New Year’s, the Swiss swap their cheese for meat, diving into the world of meat fondue, a tradition now as Swiss as yodeling. But while cheese fondue’s history is well-document

Swiss craftsmanship and cultural pride across continents As my Swiss passport was due to expire in a few months' time, I thought it best to get a new one ahead of time. Always be prepared, is one of my mantras. These days the process of renewing a passport is very straightforward: I just had to fill in an online form and submit to the Passport Office in Switzerland, and within less than 24 hours I got confirmation that they had the necessary confidence that I am indeed who I

Beyond cheese: Swiss cuisine explained from Japan As I enter my 28th year in Japan (and my former life on 'planet Switzerland' is drifting more and more into the obscure past), I have been reflecting on the fact that some of the questions I face when meeting new people in Japan have never changed over the years. Japanese people generally show great interest in other countries and cultures, and especially so, it seems, in Switzerland. Switzerland enjoys kind of a special statu

Swiss folklore meets Japanese winter traditions 6th December will be Saint Nicholas Day. In Switzerland, on and around this day you will spot two distinctly different figures walking up and down the streets and visiting houses, one with a bushy white beard and usually clad in a Bishop's robe with a mitre and staff (though sometimes dressed in a red-hooded frock with a tippet), the other rather sinister-looking, in a black robe, with a dark beard and a face covered in coal dus

Swiss politics, identity, and the shifting meaning of home One week from today, the clocks in Europe will be set back by one hour, marking the end of summertime (or daylight saving time, as it is known in some parts of the world). Meanwhile clocks in Japan will not change, and most Japanese will probably not even notice that the time difference to Western Europe is reverting back to 8 hours, from the 7 hours during summer. Except for the UK, where it's 9 hours instead of 8. F