Japan Names Kisarazu as Official Hometown for Nigerians in New Visa Programme

Japan has officially designated the city of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture as the “hometown” for Nigerians under a new visa initiative aimed at strengthening ties between both countries.

The announcement was made on Friday during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also pledged $5.5 billion in fresh investments across Africa.

Under the programme, Kisarazu will serve as the primary hub for Nigerians entering Japan through a newly created visa category. The special visa scheme is designed for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians, as well as artisans and blue-collar workers willing to upgrade their skills while contributing to Japan’s workforce.

Officials said the initiative was conceived both as a cultural exchange and as a response to Japan’s aging population and shrinking workforce, with hopes that Nigerian talent can help boost economic and social revitalisation.

At the designation ceremony, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, received the certificate of hometown recognition alongside the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe. Both officials hailed the development as a milestone in bilateral relations.

The choice of Kisarazu is symbolic, as the city previously hosted Nigeria’s national team during its training camp for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, creating a lasting bond with the community.

Japan also extended similar hometown designations to other African countries, naming Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture as the hub for Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.

The move is expected to open doors for wider cultural diplomacy and deeper grassroots exchanges between Japan and Africa.

For Nigerians, the programme represents a new opportunity to live, work and integrate in a Japanese city that is positioning itself as a model for international cooperation.

For Japan, it reflects a pragmatic approach to demographic challenges while reinforcing its role as a long-term development partner on the African continent.