Japanese Government Names a City as Hometown for Nigerians
Japanese Government names a new city as Hometown for Nigerians
By David Peter
The government of Japan on Thursday, August 21, 2025 named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country. This comes as part of Japan’s strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth, and enhance workforce productivity.
Under this new partnership, announced on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development, attended by President Tinubu, the Japanese government will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.
Particularly,artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill themselves will also benefit from a special dispensation visa to live and work in Japan.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency, which unveil this at a ceremony, also named the cities of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture the hometown of Mozambique.
Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations.
Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, also the Acting Ambassador to Japan, and Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government naming Kisarazu the hometown of Nigerians.
The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development that will add value to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations.
The local authorities are excited about this development as they are hopeful the designations will increase the population of their cities, and contribute to their regional revitalisation efforts.
Recall that Kisarazu was the official host town of the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team conducted their pre-games training camps and acclimatisation in the city before moving to the Olympic village, in the COVID-19 delayed Olympic Games.
Earlier in his opening address at the TICAD9, the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, announced a $5.5 billion in New investment in Africa. He emphasised the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development. The Prime Minister stated Japan’s focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.
Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged the challenges of Japan’s ageing population but emphasised that locally rooted solutions are essential for Africa’s development. He said:
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa”.
He called on African countries to assist Japan as it grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land.
The designation of cities for African and announcement of investment funds, Japan has declared its intentions for a long-term partnership with Africa.
