This week, the Japanese government faced challenges in reassuring the public that the “African Hometown” initiative is not a covert plan for large-scale migration from Africa to Japan amidst rising demographic concerns.
The issue first surfaced last Thursday when the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced that four Japanese cities would be part of the African Hometown Programme, in conjunction with cities from Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.
The Nigerian government quickly responded by stating that Japan aims to establish special visa categories for skilled and talented young Nigerians who would like to live and work in Japan, specifically mentioning Kisaraz as a partnering city.
The Nigerian statement added that artists and other workers from Nigeria would benefit from a newly introduced visa designed for working in Japan.
President Bola Tinubu’s office noted that this move to offer special visas was made during the recent Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held last week in Yokohama.
The announcement triggered an outcry from the Japanese public, particularly when Google Maps unexpectedly referred to Kisaraz as the “Nigeria City Office.”
Residents from the other three participating cities—Sanjo, Nagai, and Imabari—contacted their local governments in response to the news concerning Kisaraz and the potential distribution of work visas.
Japan is facing one of the most significant demographic declines globally and has often been cited as a hallmark for societal and economic models. The declining birthrate has led to heightened concerns as other countries grapple with similar issues. The Japanese government recognizes the population decrease as a pressing national crisis.
However, the approach many Japanese citizens seem to prefer isn’t simply to increase the foreign population. Public opinion has shown a notable resistance to large-scale migration, despite some support for limited foreign workers in specific fields, particularly in elder and child care.
According to reports, some observers noted a tendency among the Japanese population to exhibit a degree of “xenophobia” or negative sentiments toward immigration.
Critics have mentioned that the term “hometown” might imply that people from African nations would be granted special residency and work permissions in Japan’s partner cities, a notion reinforced by various Nigerian officials.
Misunderstandings have also arisen, particularly highlighted by a Tanzanian article that misrepresented a headline about Japan’s relationship with Tanzania, leading to confusion in translations.
Of course, some left-leaning media outlets seem hesitant to acknowledge that the Japanese public may be wary of immigration following challenges faced by countries in Europe due to massive influxes.
City officials in the four Japanese locations reported processing “hundreds of calls and thousands of emails” in response to this situation.
“We did not request to accept immigrants or facilitate special workplace requirements for Nigerians,” asserted Kisaraz’s Mayor Yoshikuni Islands.
Mayor Saikai from Imabari firmly stated that there is “absolutely no truth” to claims that local authorities would cede territory to immigrants, urging people not to spread unfounded information.
Similarly, Mayor Takazawa from Sanjo denied any requests for immigrant acceptance from Ghana or plans to do so in the future.
The Japanese central government promptly intervened, urging African officials and publications to correct “inaccurate and misleading” information.
JICA clarified that the “African Hometown” program is fundamentally a sister city initiative, intended mainly as a cultural exchange and goodwill effort.
The agency indicated that some reports from various African media might contain inaccuracies, emphasizing the existing relationships these four Japanese cities have with their African counterparts, such as Yangtze’s hosting of Tanzanian athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
