Japan Immigration News

JICA to scrap Japan-Africa ‘hometown’ plan amid protests

Release Date: 2025-09-26
Media: The Asahi Shimbun
Summary: Japan’s aid agency JICA will scrap its “JICA Africa Hometown” project after protests erupted due to widespread misinformation suggesting it was an immigration initiative.

The program, launched in August with the Foreign Ministry, aimed to build exchange ties between four Japanese cities (Kisarazu–Nigeria, Nagai–Tanzania, Sanjo–Ghana, Imabari–Mozambique) and African nations. Confusion intensified when the Nigerian president’s office mistakenly claimed Japan would designate Kisarazu as a “hometown” for Nigerians and create a special visa, sparking protests, mass complaints, and calls to dismantle JICA.

Despite repeated clarifications that the project was unrelated to immigration, backlash persisted, and some cities requested cancellation. Officials concluded the initiative burdened local governments and that the word “hometown” fueled misunderstanding. While officials stressed the project’s value, they decided to withdraw it, though one ministry source warned that retreating could be seen as giving in to online pressure.
Tags: Coexistence

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