In a landmark move to deepen cultural diplomacy and boost economic cooperation, the government of Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country.
The announcement was made Thursday on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where Japan unveiled a new initiative to create special visa categories for skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians. Artisans and blue-collar workers seeking to upskill will also benefit from the arrangement, granting them opportunities to live and work in Japan.
The initiative is part of Japan’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with Africa while addressing its own demographic challenges, including an ageing population and declining agricultural workforce.
At a ceremony hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), certificates were presented to Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe of Kisarazu, officially designating the city as Nigeria’s hometown in Japan.
Other African nations also received similar designations: Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture as Tanzania’s hometown, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture as Ghana’s hometown, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture as Mozambique’s hometown.
Officials said the arrangement would promote manpower development, mutual understanding, and regional revitalisation by encouraging two-way exchanges between Japan and the four African nations.
Kisarazu already has established ties with Nigeria, having hosted the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics during their pre-Games training camp.
Speaking at TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a fresh $5.5 billion investment in Africa and stressed the importance of co-creation between Japan and African countries. He highlighted private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration as the pillars of Japan’s Africa engagement strategy.
“Japan needs to know more about Africa,” Ishiba said. “In creating solutions together, our focus is on sustainable growth, empowering the next generation, and fostering connectivity both within and beyond Africa.”
He also appealed to African nations to support Japan as it faces the challenges of population decline and shrinking farmland.