Düsseldorf and Chiba: Friendship strengthened by artistic manhole covers!

Düsseldorf and Chiba: Friendship strengthened by artistic manhole covers!

On June 18, 2025, the delegation from the city of Düsseldorf continued its journey to Japan. As part of this trip, a manhole cover was ceremoniously unveiled in Chiba Prefecture, symbolizing the long-standing friendship between Düsseldorf and Chiba. This manhole cover is identical in construction and design to a counterpart that has been on display in Düsseldorf since 2024. The colorful design of the manhole covers is an integral part of Japanese everyday culture and was presented as a gift from TOMOTETSU Kogyo Co., Ltd. which is known for its high-quality cast products.

The friendship between Düsseldorf and Chiba has existed for over 20 years, with the official partnership having existed since 2019. This initiative was launched on the occasion of the anniversary “160 years of German-Japanese relations” in 2021, with the aim of making the connection between the two cities visible in the cityscape. On June 19, the delegation traveled to Osaka by Shinkansen to visit the German pavilion at the World Expo 2025. Under the motto "Wa! Germany - Mutually Shaping a Circular World", the topic of sustainable business is discussed intensively.

The German Pavilion and the circular economy

The Düsseldorf companies NextLevelKnit and Kiyo will be presenting themselves in the interactive pavilion. The concept of the pavilion is closely linked to the circular economy. This economic approach serves as a response to the earth's finite resources, which are increasingly being depleted. In order to avoid future losses in quality of life and prosperity, a shift to the circular economy is necessary. In this context, the “Circular Valley” initiative promotes exchange between companies in the Rhine-Ruhr region in order to promote circular business models.

The challenges facing the circular economy include issues of acceptance among the population and the widespread belief that “new is better”. Discussions at the Expo emphasized that the value of products should not be measured by their newness. Entrepreneurs and producers have the opportunity to develop solutions that make products more valuable and at the same time conserve resources. The author of an accompanying article reflects on this based on her own experience with old garden furniture, which she keeps for functional reasons and thus remains true to her own values.

Visits and achievements at the Expo

The delegation also visited the Mitsubishi and Komatsu pavilions. The Mitsubishi Pavilion features an immersive video installation exploring the circle of life, while the Komatsu Pavilion showcases innovative technologies for underwater construction, including remote-controlled construction equipment. During these visits, economic prospects of Expo 2025 and the Kansai region were also discussed, particularly with regard to promoting the local start-up ecosystem.

On June 20, the delegation continued its journey to Kobe to explore further aspects of this international economic and cultural connection. Expo 2025, which runs until October 13, is expected to attract around 28 million international visitors, providing an excellent platform for exchange and mutual inspiration.

The importance of the circular economy is becoming increasingly clear in these conversations. “Rethinking growth” could not only ensure future success, but also make an important contribution to resource management. Information on this can be found at allsafe-group.com and the details of the delegation trip can be found on Lokalklick.eu be read.