The Germans and the Japanese are more similar than people think. That’s the conclusion reached by Yasuo Inadome, who was born in Tokyo but has called North Rhine-Westphalia his home for more than 20 years now.

As official spokesperson for the Japanese Club of Düsseldorf and Board Member of the German-Japanese Society in the Lower Rhine region, he knows both cultures intimately, and is forever noticing fresh similarities: “We enjoy celebrations just as much as the Germans do, and we’re every bit as tradition-conscious.” For years he has been a keen fan of the shooting fairs in Willich, in which he is an active participant and to which he has been invited as guest of honor every year: “I particularly love the parades.”
Equally, diligence, punctuality and meticulousness are greatly valued in both cultures. Says Inadome: “This is why my fellow countrymen feel so at home here.”

North Rhine-Westphalia is particularly popular because of its unique combination of carnival, art and culture. “We love the people here because they’re so cosmopolitan, and eager to experience new things,” Inadome declares enthusiastically. “When you first arrive here as an immigrant, people are supportive wherever you go.”

In short, when Japanese people contemplate a career abroad, it’s North Rhine-Westphalia they consider first. This may well be why, with over 7,000 members, the Japanese Society based in Düsseldorf and its surrounding area on the Lower Rhine has become one of the largest and most important Japanese expatriate communities – and one that continues to grow. And Inadome points out that although most Japanese people are here for work reasons, “when they have to go back to Japan three or five years later, no-one is ever glad to leave.”

The boom started after the Second World War. This was when the first Japanese companies were attracted to the Rhine metropolis. They came because for its reconstruction, the economy of the Land of the Rising Sun needed heavy equipment, industrial machinery and raw materials, all of which was in fairly plentiful supply in the Rhine-Ruhr area. And Düsseldorf, the “writing desk of the Ruhr area”, as Inadome calls it, was the first port of call.

By degrees, more and more Japanese companies moved to Düsseldorf and the surrounding area. And with the opening of the Japanese International School in Düsseldorf in 1971, North Rhine-Westphalia finally overtook its competitor, Hamburg.

Today, around 500 Japanese companies use North Rhine-Westphalia as the base for their operations in the German and European market. The area’s geographical location in the middle of Europe gives them a strategic advantage over their competitors. In addition, North Rhine-Westphalia has an excellent infrastructure, plus a workforce with an above-average level of qualification. Inadome confirms this, from his own experience as the Deputy Managing Director of Topcon, an opto-electronic equipment company: “German engineers, opticians or doctors are top class. Taken together, all these factors make North Rhine-Westphalia an outstanding location”.

The Japanese network in North Rhine-Westphalia is virtually all encompassing. The Japanese Club in Düsseldorf has existed since 1964, promoting contacts between Germans and the Japanese. The Japanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce is domiciled here. At the Japanese International School, children receive a cross-cultural education. And everyday life is made easier by Japanese hotels, hairdressers, grocery stores and travel agencies.

By now, returning to his home country is out of the question for Yasuo Inadome. He would no longer feel at home in Tokyo: “Too big, too hectic.” Besides, there are a few more things he’d still like to do here – maybe one day he’ll even carry off the top title at one of those shooting fairs.