Japan cancels ‘Africa Hometown’ project over visa confusion

The Japan International Cooperation Agency has canceled its ‘JICA Africa Hometown’ initiative, claiming “misunderstandings and confusion” regarding the program.

JICA announced the withdrawal in a statement on its website on Thursday, weeks after reports said Japan would create a special visa category for Nigerians who wanted to migrate to Kisarazu, a city designated as a “hometown” for Nigerians and other Africans under the program.

On August 26, the Japanese government denied the visa plan after Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, issued a statement stating that Japan would establish a “special visa category” for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to live and work in Kisarazu.

JICA clarified its position, stating that the use of the word “hometown” and the concept of “designating” Japanese municipalities as such caused “misunderstandings and confusion within Japan, placing an excessive burden on the four municipalities.”

The statement read, “Originally, under this initiative, it was envisioned that exchange programs would be coordinated and implemented among the Japanese local governments, relevant African countries, and JICA. The specific details were to be determined later.

“However, JICA believes that the very nature of this initiative—namely, the term “hometown” and the fact that JICA would ‘designate’ Japanese local governments as “hometowns”—led to misunderstandings and confusion within Japan, placing an excessive burden on the four municipalities. JICA sincerely apologizes to the municipalities involved for causing such a situation.

“JICA takes this situation seriously. After consulting with all parties involved, JICA has decided to withdraw the “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative.”

The initiative, which was introduced in August during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, aims to promote interactions between four Japanese municipalities and four African countries through cultural and educational programs.

JICA, on the other hand, emphasized that it has never sponsored immigration-related programs and has “no plans to do so in the future,” while continuing to fund other types of international engagement.

In August, confusion emerged when the State House stated that Japan had designated Kisarazu City as Nigerians’ “hometown” and would create a special visa category for young, competent Nigerians who wanted to live and work there.

However, the Japanese authorities swiftly rejected the claim.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the JICA Africa Hometown program, which aimed to enhance cultural and developmental contacts between chosen African countries and four Japanese towns, did not include any immigration advantages or special visas.

The clarification occurred after Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu Mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, formally received a certificate proclaiming the city the “hometown” of Nigerians, fueling speculation about migration chances.