Inside Sophia Jansson’s Moomin world: “Among the Moomin characters, Little My is closest to my heart”

My favorite decor treasure

My father, Lars Jansson, and my aunt, Tove Jansson, had statues by her father, sculptor Viktor Jansson, which have traveled from home to home. They are small-scale models of real statues, like the fountain sculptures in Helsinki’s Esplanadi street. I keep them on my windowsill. In our family, we’ve always valued beauty. There isn’t much of a Moomin theme at home. Still, we have loads of Moomin mugs, and I pick my morning tea mug according to my mood. Today I chose an orange Hattifattener mug.

Favorite place

Our family’s cottages are in Pellinge. I love being surrounded by the sea in the archipelago, just like the other Janssons. I grew up by the water. The best part of cottage life is that everything happens outdoors. In the summer, I read, swim, go on day trips, and grill. There’s always some project under way because the weather can get rough.

Favorite insight

The most important thing in life is to treat each other well. Tove and my father realized that ages ago. Whenever you meet someone new, you should be tolerant, open, friendly, and kind.

Favorite childhood memory

Trips with my father and Tove. We packed food, sun umbrellas, and fire-making tools into the boat. Tove lived on another island, and we’d pick her up. Sometimes her partner Tuulikki also came along. Tove was always excited, adventurous, and childlike to the end. She was also wonderfully wise. She never treated me like a child who was in the way. These days, I love being at the cottage with my five- and three-year-old grandchildren and going on outings.

Favorite everyday moment

In the morning, my spouse, Roleff Kråkström, and I sit in the kitchen, read the papers, and I have tea. I’m not great at eating breakfast, but I make myself have cereal. When I turned 60, I stopped going to our company, Moomin Characters, every day. Now I can plan my day as I wish, even go for a walk.

Favorite hobby

Traveling. I’m restless, and I have a long list of places I still want to see. I need to go while I’m energetic and my mind is sharp! I also love gardening. At the cottage, I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs in the greenhouse. I always plant too many flowers in the beds, and I’m impatient.

Favorite Moomin character

Little My is closest to my heart. She’s not mean; she’s just direct, which suits Finnish women well. When emotions run high, Little My cuts right through and says it’s time to move on. I’ve always thought of myself as calm, but I’ve been told I’m quite stubborn and temperamental.

Sophia Jansson, 63, is the principal shareholder and Chair of the Board of Moomin Characters, and she lives in Helsinki. Her autobiography, Three Islands—Father, Mother, and Me, was published in September 2025.