An initiative intended to strengthen ties between Japan and African nations has descended into controversy after misleading reports fuelled claims that the project would bring an influx of immigrants.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) this month named four Japanese cities, Imabari, Kisarazu, Sanjo and Nagai, as “Africa hometowns” linked with Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania. The scheme, unveiled at the close of an international conference on African development in Yokohama, is aimed at promoting personnel exchanges and cultural events.
However, inaccurate media coverage in Africa, and subsequent references in Japanese-language sources, prompted a surge of anger on social media and a wave of phone calls and emails to local governments. Many critics mistakenly believed the “hometown” designation granted special immigration rights.
“If immigrants come flooding in, who is going to take responsibility?” one online post read. Another, viewed 4.6 million times on X, falsely claimed that Kisarazu was “seriously considering handing over the city to Africans”.
Officials in the four cities reported being inundated with complaints. Sanjo received 350 phone calls and 3,500 emails in just two days, while Imabari fielded 460 calls and 1,400 emails. “Our team of 15 officials spent a whole day handling hundreds of phone calls and thousands of emails from residents,” a Sanjo official told AFP.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, dismissed the speculation. “There are no plans to promote accepting immigrants or issue special visas,” he said.
Local leaders also sought to calm fears. Kisarazu’s mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, stressed the project would not result in migration, recalling the city’s links with Nigeria since hosting its Olympic athletes in 2021. “Our initiatives will involve cooperating in the education of young people through baseball and softball. It’s not a programme that will lead to relocation or immigration,” he said.
Ryo Takizawa, mayor of Sanjo, issued a similar statement: “It is not true that the city has requested to accept migrants or immigrants from Ghana, and the city has no plans to make such a request in the future.”
Confusion has partly been traced to an article in the Tanzania Times headlined “Japan dedicates Nagai city to Tanzania”. The word “dedicates” was translated online into the Japanese term sasageru, which can also mean “to sacrifice”, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
Nigeria’s government also appeared to have misunderstood the programme, stating Kisarazu was open to “Nigerians willing to live and work [in Japan]” and suggesting a special visa would be created. Japan’s foreign ministry has since asked Abuja to issue a correction.
JICA said several outlets had published “inaccuracies and potentially misleading information” and was pressing governments and media organisations to amend their reports.
