The Japanese government has officially named Kisarazu as the “hometown” for Nigerians who wish to live and work in Japan, marking a groundbreaking effort to enhance cultural exchange and address the country’s demographic challenges.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama. As part of the program, Japan will offer a special visa category targeting highly skilled young Nigerians, as well as artisans and blue-collar workers seeking to upgrade their skills. The initiative seeks to boost workforce productivity while fostering stronger people-to-people connections.
Other African nations have also been assigned designated hometowns: Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe jointly received the official certificate recognizing the partnership.
The hometown program aims to strengthen municipal cooperation, support workforce development, and promote regional revitalization. Kisarazu has a history of ties with Nigeria, having hosted Team Nigeria for pre-Games training ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In his TICAD9 opening speech, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a $5.5 billion investment in Africa, focusing on private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration. He also highlighted Japan’s domestic challenges, including an aging population and decreasing agricultural land, emphasizing the need for collaborative solutions with African nations.
“Japan is offering extensive cooperation and support for Africa. To create solutions together, we must engage in co-creation through private sector growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration,” he stated.
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