The Government of Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians living and working in the country, in a landmark move to deepen cultural diplomacy, strengthen economic ties, and enhance workforce productivity.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). Under the new partnership, Japan will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians interested in relocating to Kisarazu. Artisans and blue-collar workers seeking to upskill will also benefit from this special visa arrangement.
At the ceremony, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) similarly announced hometown designations for other African countries: Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique. These designations are expected to foster people-to-people exchanges and drive mutual economic growth.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Kisarazu’s Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe, received the certificate officially naming Kisarazu as the hometown of Nigerians. Local authorities expressed hope that the initiative will also contribute to regional revitalisation efforts by boosting population growth in host cities.
Kisarazu already shares a history with Nigeria, having hosted the Nigerian contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the team held its pre-games training camp before moving into the Olympic Village.
In his opening remarks at TICAD 9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a $5.5 billion investment package for Africa, stressing the importance of private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration. He highlighted Japan’s ageing population challenge and called for stronger co-creation with Africa to develop locally rooted solutions for sustainable growth.
“Japan needs to know more about Africa. This is why we are focusing on co-creation in key areas: private sector-driven development, youth and women empowerment, and regional connectivity,” Prime Minister Ishiba stated.
The new hometown partnership between Kisarazu and Nigeria is expected to create a solid foundation for manpower exchange, skills development,