The government of Japan has named the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country, as part of efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, boost economic growth, and enhance workforce productivity.
The announcement was made on Thursday on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9). Under the new arrangement, Japan will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians seeking to move to Kisarazu. Artisans and blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are open to upskilling will also benefit from the scheme.
At the same ceremony, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) designated Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture as the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture as the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture as the hometown of Mozambique. The initiative aims to strengthen exchanges between Japan and the four African nations by linking municipalities with existing ties to those countries.
Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Yoshikuni Watanabe, Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate formally designating the city as the hometown of Nigerians. The four cities are expected to serve as hubs for manpower development and mutual economic growth.
Local authorities believe the designations will also help address population decline and drive regional revitalisation in Japan. Kisarazu previously hosted Nigeria’s contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, accommodating their pre-games training and acclimatisation.During TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced \$5.5 billion in new investments in Africa, stressing the importance of co-creation, private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration. He also acknowledged Japan’s ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, calling for mutual collaboration with African nations to tackle shared challenges.
Source : https://statehouse.gov.ng/
