Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia celebrate 165 years of Japanese-German relations
Cherry Blossom Reception for Japanese business
The state capital Düsseldorf and the North Rhine-Westphalia’s trade and investement agency NRW.Global Business welcomed around 200 representatives of Japanese businesses to the traditional Cherry Blossom Reception at the Düsseldorf racecourse on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller greeted the guests together with Paul Höller, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Japanese Consul General Yoshitaka Tsunoda.
In Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia, the close ties between the two nations have been actively cultivated for decades: This year's meeting celebrated 165 years of Japanese-German relations. The reception serves not only as a platform for exchange and a token of gratitude but also underscores the friendship between North Rhine-Westphalia, the state capital Düsseldorf and the Japanese community, especially in times of geopolitical and economic challenges.
Discussions focused on German-Japanese cooperation opportunities in the areas of security and defense, sustainable technologies and quantum computing and AI. These topics also shape the event calendar of the German-Japanese business community: The Japan Business Day, one of the largest German-Japanese business conferences, will take place on May 27, 2026 under the theme "Realizing the Circular Economy through the Commercialization of New Ideas and Processes." Japan Day Düsseldorf, the largest German-Japanese cultural event, is planned for Saturday, May 23, 2026. In addition, the German-Japanese Business Association is celebrating its anniversary. The German-Japanese Society (DGzRS) will celebrate its 40th anniversary in Düsseldorf with a symposium on "Security Cooperation in Transition: Germany and Japan in Dialogue on Stability Policy" on June 24. Among those expected to attend are the Japanese Ambassador and North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President, Hendrik Wüst.
Japanese companies in Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia
The close economic partnership with Japan is also reflected in the continued attractiveness of the region for Japanese investors: Last year, a total of 24 Japanese companies established new operations in North Rhine-Westphalia, 22 of them in the state capital. In addition, four more companies relocated their headquarters within the state to the city of Düsseldorf.
Düsseldorf is a particularly sought-after location for innovative technologies. For example, the software developer Micware chose to locate its European headquarters in the state capital. With "The Cradle" building in the Media Harbour, the company found an office location that meets the highest sustainability standards, thanks in part to its circular construction based on the Cradle-to-Cradle principle. The establishment of the company was supported by NRW.Global Business and the economic development agency of the state capital.
Tricor Packaging & Logistics, a subsidiary of the Japanese Rengo Group, is making a significant contribution to the sustainability goals of North Rhine-Westphalia as an industrial location. Its newly constructed heavy-duty corrugated board plant in Goch/Weeze, with its clear focus on resource-conserving processes and environmentally friendly products, is among the most modern and sustainable production facilities for heavy-duty corrugated board in Europe.
Five expansion projects were also implemented across the state among existing Japanese companies, including four in the state capital. As part of the "Plant 2030" project, Komatsu, the largest Japanese employer in Düsseldorf, announced the construction of a state-of-the-art production hall specifically designed for the manufacture of the world's largest hydraulic excavator. This will ensure the long-term competitiveness of the corporation and secure numerous jobs at the Düsseldorf-Benrath site.
There are currently around 400 Japanese companies based in Düsseldorf and over 650 throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. The Japanese community comprises approximately 7,000 people in Düsseldorf and around 15,000 in North Rhine-Westphalia as a whole. With Düsseldorf as its state capital, North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the strongest economic centers for Japanese businesses in Germany and continental Europe.