Copyright Düsseldorf Tourismus. Picture: Oliver Tjaden
Japan Desk – City of Düsseldorf
Due to the high concentration of Japanese business and Japan-related activities, the City of Düsseldorf established a Japan-Desk within the International Business Service of the city’s Office of Economic Development in 2007. The Japan-Desk provides individual and comprehensive support and advice to Japanese companies as a “one-stop” service, aiming at companies that are already located in Düsseldorf as well as companies that are planning to establish a branch in Düsseldorf. The range of services encompasses the provision of information on the business location, support – offered in cooperation with the city’s Expat Service Desk – during the application process for working & residence permits, the organisation of real estate tours or the integration of new contacts into Düsseldorf’s vast German-Japanese business network . All of these services can be offered in German, English and Japanese by one of the three Japan-Desk members, who function as permanent contact persons for the respective companies.
In order to strengthen the German-Japanese network in Düsseldorf, the Japan Desk and its Japanese and German partners like the Japanese Consulate General, JETRO Düsseldorf, the Japanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce Düsseldorf or NRW.Global Business has also established various regular event formats. These includes events such as Japan Day, the Japanese-German Business Symposium or the annual New Year’s reception for the Japanese business community.
A special highlight in this regard is the traditional Düsseldorf Abend (Düsseldorf Evening). This reception, which is organised by the City of Düsseldorf, Messe Düsseldorf and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for employees of Japanese companies and institutions who used to work in Düsseldorf, takes place in Tokyo about every three years since the 1980s. In 2019, Düsseldorf Abend attracted more than 1 200 participants and thus is most likely the biggest regular German-Japanese networking event.
In addition to the Japan-Desk, the city’s Department for International and European Cooperation is also heavily involved in the city’s Japan-related activities, especially regarding the exchange activities between Düsseldorf and its Japanese partner prefecture Chiba. The exchange primarily occurs in the fields of culture, youth and sports and involves regular visits of the Governor of Chiba to Düsseldorf and Düsseldorf’s Mayor to Chiba Prefecture. Moreover, Chiba Prefectural Government also organizes a Chiba booth on the occasion of Japan Day where the prefecture is represented by its very popular mascot, Chiba-kun.
Düsseldorf: Japan’s best choice in Europe
A tradition of more than 60 years closely connects Düsseldorf with Japan. With 410 companies in the city area and a total of 641 companies in the region, Düsseldorf is the largest Japanese business location in continental Europe, and still growing. Many Japanese companies have their European or German headquarters here and take advantage of the strong economic environment and excellent infrastructure to develop their markets – including Komatsu, Asahi Kasei, Hitachi, Wacom, Shiseido or Kikkoman, to name just a few.
Düsseldorf is located in the centre of one of the largest and economically strongest metropolitan regions in Europe, comparable to London and Paris. From the centre of the Rhine-Ruhr region with its 11.4 million inhabitants within an hour’s drive, Düsseldorf offers direct access to one of the largest end-customer markets in Europe.
More than 500,000 companies are located within a 50-kilometer radius of Düsseldorf. The city thus offers the greatest B2B potential in Europe. Companies can find innovative business partners in many industries ranging from automotive/mobility, ITC and mobile telecommunications to chemicals and mechanical engineering.
Lately Düsseldorf is coming more into focus as an innovation location for Japanese companies as well: Japanese companies are increasingly bundling research, development and test centres in Düsseldorf and the region and benefit from Germany’s densest research landscape, a dynamic start-up scene and innovative business partners.
Japanese companies know: Düsseldorf is the ideal location to tap into the German and European markets. Here they find the partners they need to realize their technological ideas and build a Europe-wide sales network – and all this at moderate location costs and with the highest quality of life. Being able to arrive and get started is what Japanese companies like about Düsseldorf.
Copyright Office of Economic Development. Picture: Michael Lübke
Düsseldorf is also one of the most important target regions for foreign direct investment in Europe. Every seventh company in the city is of foreign origin. International schools and kindergartens, consulates, international business development institutions, as well as a living culture of welcome and active support from the city administration make it easy for companies and international professionals to gain a foothold in Düsseldorf.
And expats love to come, because Düsseldorf is one of the six most liveable cities in the world. The cosmopolitan atmosphere makes it easy for newcomers to feel at home here. Work efficiently and enjoy the pleasant aspects of life – that’s what the city with its hospitable and international atmosphere offers to the Japanese community.
That is why 8,400 Japanese live in Düsseldorf, the largest Japanese community in Germany. The unique Japanese infrastructure with its restaurants, stores, service providers, clubs, the Japanese International School and kindergartens make it easy for Japanese families to feel at home. Excellent restaurants and izakayas serve authentic Japanese cuisine. In Düsseldorf’s “Little Tokyo” ramen snack bars, bakeries, bars, hotels, supermarkets and bookstores between the main train station and the city center along Immermannstrasse and Klosterstrasse offer everything Japanese need for daily life and wouldn’t want to miss. Here, locals, Japanese businessmen, young manga fans and foodies from all over the world meet over noodle soup, sushi, sake and Altbier, making the Japanese quarter one of Düsseldorf’s busiest places. A Japanese garden, the EKO house and the Buddhist temple complete this picture.
Copyright Office of Economic Development. Picture: Paul Esser
The best opportunity to get to know the “Japanese” Düsseldorf is probably on the annual Japan Day, which will continue its tradition after the pandemic in 2022. The German-Japanese encounter festival attracts half a million visitors to the city every year, and in addition to stage shows, exhibitions and, of course, Japanese delicacies, offers an impressive Japanese fireworks display, supported by Düsseldorf’s partner prefecture of Chiba.
Find out more on www.duesseldorf.de/wirtschaftsfoerderung
With thanks to Benjamin Leonhardt, Senior Project Manager Japan-Desk, International Business Service, The Office of Economic Development Düsseldorf.
Copyright Düsseldorf Tourismus. Picture: Jörg Letz
