Japan Designates Kisarazu As ‘Hometown For Nigerians’ To Strengthen Bilateral Ties

The Japanese government has designated the city of Kisarazu as the “hometown” for Nigerians who want to live and work in Japan.

The announcement, made during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), is part of Japan’s wider plan to boost cultural diplomacy, strengthen economic ties, and improve workforce productivity.

Nigeria’s acting ambassador to Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, received the certificate alongside Kisarazu’s mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, at the ceremony.

Under the new arrangement, Japan will roll out a special visa program for young, skilled, and innovative Nigerians interested in relocating to Kisarazu.

The scheme will also benefit artisans and blue-collar workers who want to gain new skills while contributing to the city’s growth.

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According to the announcement, the initiative is expected to encourage people-to-people exchanges and support regional development in both countries.

Kisarazu already has a history with Nigeria, as Kisarazu hosted Team Nigeria at their training base during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Other African nations were also given similar designations. Tanzania was linked with Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture, Ghana with Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture, and Mozambique with Imabari in Ehime Prefecture.

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The goal is to expand partnerships that encourage manpower development and stronger bilateral ties.

During TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also announced a $5.5 billion investment package for Africa, stressing Japan’s commitment to private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and deeper regional integration.

He noted that Japan, facing demographic and agricultural challenges, hopes to work more closely with African nations to find sustainable solutions.

Meanwhile, the United States Mission in Nigeria has directed all visa applicants to submit details of their social media activity from the past five years.

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