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2h ago

Japan Quashes False Visa Claims Tied to Africa 'Hometowns' Program

Officials say the Jica initiative focuses on youth exchanges, not immigration.

In Imabari, Japan, officials received a large number of complaints over a scheme to make the city "hometown" for a partner country in Africa
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi answers questions at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, on June 16, 2025.
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Overview

  • Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there are no plans to accept immigrants or issue special visas under the scheme.
  • The four cities named in the initiative — Kisarazu, Sanjo, Imabari and Nagai — have fielded thousands of inquiries, including 350 calls and 3,500 emails in Sanjo and 460 calls and 1,400 emails in Imabari.
  • A Nigerian government statement referring to a special visa category and viral posts on X, including a claim that Kisarazu would be handed over to Africans with 4.6 million views, helped drive the confusion.
  • The mayors of the four cities issued denials and described activities such as youth education through baseball and softball, stressing the programme will not lead to relocation or immigration.
  • Jica launched the 'African hometowns' ties at TICAD linking the cities with Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania, and Japan has reportedly asked Nigeria to issue a correction as Jica urges media fixes.