The Government of Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians seeking to live and work in the country, in a move aimed at strengthening cultural diplomacy, boosting economic growth, and enhancing workforce productivity.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.
According to the statement, the initiative was announced on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9). Under the new partnership, Japan will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who wish to relocate to Kisarazu to live and work.
“Artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan,” the statement added.
As part of the broader arrangement, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also designated three other African “hometowns”: Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.
“Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations,” the statement further noted.
Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Adeseke, alongside the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe, received the official certificate naming Kisarazu as Nigeria’s hometown.
The statement explained that the initiative is designed to build two-way manpower exchanges that will contribute to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the partner African countries. “Local authorities hope that the designations will increase the population of their cities, contributing to their regional revitalisation efforts,” it added.
Kisarazu already shares a bond with Nigeria, having hosted the country’s contingent during the COVID-19-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the Nigerian team held their pre-games training and acclimatisation camps.
Speaking during TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investment in Africa and underscored the importance of partnership and co-creation.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa,” Ishiba said.
He acknowledged Japan’s ageing population and shrinking agricultural land as pressing challenges, urging African nations to collaborate in finding sustainable solutions.
