Japan Designates Cities as African Hometowns to Boost Skilled Migration

Japan has designated four cities—Imabari, Kisarazu, Sanjo, and Nagai—as symbolic “hometowns” for partner African countries Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania to foster closer cultural and economic cooperation and address demographic challenges. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral ties through personnel exchanges and collaborative events while revitalizing Japan’s regions by encouraging two-way human resource exchanges. Although the program includes discussions about easing visa processes for skilled African workers, Japanese officials have clarified that there are no plans to promote immigration or issue special visas, countering widespread misinformation and xenophobic backlash fueled by inaccurate media reports. The backlash led to thousands of inquiries and complaints from concerned Japanese residents fearing a “flood of immigrants,” which officials have denied. Japan’s approach marks a shift from traditional development aid towards integrating African nationals as key partners in local communities to help alleviate labor shortages caused by an aging population. The program is intended to create long-term mutually beneficial relationships and may serve as a model for other countries facing similar demographic pressures.