The Japanese government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarified on August 25, 2025, that the “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative, announced by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), does not involve granting special visas or immigration privileges to Nigerians or other Africans. The initiative, which designates four Japanese cities: Kisarazu for Nigeria, Nagai for Tanzania, Sanjo for Ghana, and Imabari for Mozambique, as “hometowns” for these African nations, aims to foster cultural and economic exchanges through activities like volunteer events, not immigration schemes. This statement counters earlier reports claiming special visa categories for skilled Africans, as noted by the Ministry’s official release.
The clarification addresses misinformation suggesting that the program would facilitate migration to address Japan’s aging population and labor shortages. Instead, JICA focuses on strengthening ties through grassroots exchanges, leveraging past connections like Kisarazu’s hosting of Nigeria’s 2020 Tokyo Olympics team. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, speaking at TICAD 9, emphasized mutual understanding and cooperation in areas like youth empowerment and regional integration, not immigration reform.
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