The Japanese government has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians who wish to live and work in Japan.
This move is part of a strategic initiative to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth, and enhance workforce productivity.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires and acting ambassador to Japan, received the certificate officially naming Kisarazu as Nigeria’s hometown.
Under the new partnership, Japan will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to relocate to Kisarazu.
Artisans and other blue-collar Nigerian workers seeking to upskill will also benefit from the scheme.
The initiative is expected to foster two-way exchanges that will contribute to economic growth and regional revitalisation in both countries.
Kisarazu previously hosted the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, serving as their pre-Games training base.
In a related ceremony, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also designated Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture as the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture as the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture as the hometown of Mozambique.
These designations are aimed at strengthening bilateral exchanges and manpower development between Japan and African nations.
At TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investments in Africa, stressing the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for sustainable development.
He emphasised Japan’s focus on private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.
Ishiba also acknowledged Japan’s demographic challenges and urged African nations to support Japan in addressing issues related to its declining population and shrinking agricultural land.
