Düsseldorf, 2 September 2021. Despite the pandemic, in the anniversary year of German-Japanese friendship, the organisers of Japan Day Düsseldorf/NRW are paying tribute to Japanese culture in Düsseldorf with a colourfully varied programme. One of the high points will be the weekend of 11–12 September: Numerous artists familiar to Japan Day fans will be appearing on the stage of the music pavilion in the Hofgarten. Further exhibitions, talks and film screenings are planned to take place up to the end of the year.

The impressive drumming skills of the taiko drummers, the samurai army camp, musicians and traditional dance groups enchant Japan Day visitors every year. After the Japan Days 2021 started earlier in the year, on a largely digital basis, in September a live programme will bring the highlights of this popular event to the stage of the music pavilion, while the centrally located park close to the Kö-Bogen will be offering special insights into Japanese culture.

Two-day Japan programme in the Hofgarten

The programme kicks off at 13:00 on Saturday, 11 September with the official opening by the organisers – the state capital Düsseldorf, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Japanese community – and the symbolic tapping of a barrel of sake. Then until 18:00, the stage will be given over to artists who have delighted audiences at past iterations of Japan Day. The taiko kids will be showing off their skills. This will be followed in the afternoon by a paper theatre show, a concert by the Lunata ensemble and Japanese dance. The finale on Saturday will be a performance by the famous taiko drummer Taniguchi Takuya. The Lunata ensemble will be back on stage again on Sunday. Dance group Hula Moani and popular anime singer Saleia will be performing. The Choir of the Japanese Club and Miyabi will present traditional sounds using a mix of Japanese and Western orchestral instruments.

The area around the music pavilion stage is cordoned off for the event; seating is limited. On both days, the Japan Days will also be serving up an attractive side programme – including the live presence of Fortuna Düsseldorf and the samurai army camp – along with Japanese food stalls. Visitors do not need a ticket. Covid-19 rules apply: Those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 have free access; all others must present a negative antigen rapid test taken no more than 48 hours beforehand. The established social distancing and hygiene rules apply in the event area; face masks must be worn when moving around. Guests may remove their face masks once seated.

Exhibitions and dates in the anniversary year

Other Japan Days events will also be revealing different aspects of Japanese culture. A special exhibition at the Hetjens Museum will be looking at the tradition of ceramic art: “In the Morning Dew – Highlights of Japanese Ceramics over 160 Years” is on show from 9 September until 6 February 2022. A pop-up kimono show will be taking place at 16:00 on 11 September in front of the Rathaus (City Hall). From 8 October the exhibition “Little Tokyo on the Rhine: Japanese Life in Düsseldorf” at the Rathaus will be showing how the city has developed into a centre of Japanese culture in Europe. Also in October, it will be “Eyes on Japan” at the 15th Japanese Film Festival. From 7 to 31 October the Japanese Consulate-General, the Filmmuseum and the Japanese Cultural Institute Cologne will be showing examples of Japan’s diverse film landscape. The exhibition “160 Years of Economic Relations between Japan and NRW” staged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been extended to the end of the year. It’s on show in a Rheinbahn rail carriage, travelling up and down the Wehrhahn underground line.

Details of all events and the latest programme are available online: www.japantag-duesseldorf-nrw.de.

Because of Covid-19, there will be no Japanese fireworks display this year. It is hoped that the traditional fireworks will once again form the grand finale of the event at Japan Day Düsseldorf/NRW 2022 which is planned for 21 May 2022.

Japan Day has been jointly organised by the state capital Düsseldorf, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Japanese community since 2002.

Note: The photos on our Japan Day Düsseldorf/NRW 2019 media portal may be used free of charge 
(© Düsseldorf Tourismus) https://mediaserver.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/collection/35