Cooking, sport, language: these courses will turn you into real Japan pros in Düsseldorf!

Become an expert in just a few weeks - from sushi preparation to the art of calligraphy

If you've ever been lucky enough to have traveled to Japan, you'll probably agree with us: Hardly any other country fascinates as much as this one! After all, there are so many wonderfully unfamiliar things awaiting us Europeans. The language is indecipherable, we don't know many of the ingredients from our kitchens and the music also sounds somehow exotic. In Düsseldorf's very own Japanese quarter Little Tokyo, you can also gain an impression of the impressive culture. If you are already so taken with the Japanese way of life - or will be in the near future - and are keen to find out more about it, there are numerous courses in the city. Get to know these ingredients better so that you can include homemade sushi in your diet or learn to write short letters in Japanese after just a few weeks. Maybe one day you'll want to send a postcard from Kyoto to your loved ones in the local language.

Language

So much in advance: congratulations! Because if you decide to learn Japanese, you are taking on a special challenge. The language is considered very difficult to learn simply because of its characters ("kanji"). After all, some of them stand for several meanings at once, similar to German teakettles. What's more, characters put together make new words! As you can see, unlike in Europe, where many languages have certain similarities, the Japanese express themselves in a comparatively unique way for us (although there are similarities to Korean and many characters come from Chinese). But are you interested in learning to read and write kanji like around 120 million other people? Language courses for beginners and advanced learners are offered in Düsseldorf by adult education centers, the "Sprachschule Aktiv" (Hüttenstraße 11), the Japanese-run "Sprachschule Manabi" (Am Wehrhahn 41) and the association "Eko-Haus der japanischen Kultur" (Brüggener Weg 6). 

Sport 

In case you thought you'd rather leave language learning to others because it seems a little too complicated for you - there are also many layers to the sport! The origins of Ninjutsu, the martial art of the Ninja, go back 800 years. The Japanese martial art "Bujinkan" is made up of nine schools, each based on the techniques of samurai and ninja fighters. The decisive factor: It is not about attacking your opponent or the person next to you with aggression. Instead, the movements are used to defend yourself and others in an emergency. A place to go for children and adults alike who want to try out the techniques and improve their fitness, coordination and concentration at the same time? The "Bujinkan Dojo" (Münsterstraße 338) or the "Kaminari Sports School" (Harffstraße 53), for example, where trainers teach the same skills under the umbrella term Jiu Jitsu. You can also give unimagined powers free rein at the "Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Family Düsseldorf" (Ackerstraße 82).

Cooking

What would the world be without sushi, ramen or wagyu? A lost one! Ok, that may sound a little dramatic, but Japanese cuisine contains so many outstandingly delicious dishes that it is a natural part of everyday life for many of us. So you may also be one of those who have already tried your hand at making sushi rolls at home. If you've already got the hang of it, but lack the final professional tips for the perfect dish, a number of cooking schools in Düsseldorf offer courses. At "Blu Tokyo" (Luegallee 3), for example, you can learn how to make the "Atsuyaki Tamago" egg roll, as well as miso soup and Japanese-style roast beef. At "Culina Japan" (Marienstraße 39), for example, the program also includes an introduction to the country's table culture, product knowledge and "getting to know the umami structure as the key to Japanese cuisine". You can also learn how to make dashi broth and soy sauce at the cooking school, which is located in the heart of Little Tokyo. Or would you rather know how to "conjure up" the perfect soba noodles with teriyaki beef and wok vegetables? Then head to the "Kochschule Düsseldorf" (Corneliusstraße 58)!

Art & culture

Expressive faces, delicate bodies, an attention to detail that is second to none: What manga artists put on paper can only be admired in awe. So it's absolutely understandable that many of you also wish you could be just as artistic. In the aforementioned "Eko-Haus" in Niederkassel (Brüggener Weg 6), but also in online courses on manga-duesseldorf.de you can try your hand at creating your very own characters. The city's adult education centers also offer corresponding courses for children from the age of twelve. At the "Mappenkurs Düsseldorf" (Reisholzer Werftstraße 73), you can also get one-to-one lessons in creating the characters for anime, i.e. animated films, on request, figures used. Those who prefer to express themselves through language rather than imagery can try their hand at calligraphy, which incidentally enjoys the same status as painting in Japan. At the "Rie Wada Calligraphy School" (Oberbilker Allee 168) you can learn how to use brushes and ink, as well as at the "Eko-Haus", one of the central points of contact for Japanese life in Düsseldorf.

This article is funded by REACT-EU.

Pictures: Düsseldorf Tourism