The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has officially canceled its “Africa Hometown” initiative following widespread confusion and public backlash in Japan.
The program was initially designed to foster cultural and educational exchanges between four Japanese municipalities and four African countries—Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, and Mozambique.
The cancellation came after a misinformation campaign was triggered by false claims from the Nigerian government suggesting the scheme included a special visa category that would allow Nigerians to relocate to Japan. This claim sparked significant protests and complaints in Japan, fueled further by viral social media misinformation and far-right opposition led by the Sanseito party.
JICA clarified that the program was never intended as an immigration or visa scheme but strictly as a cultural exchange initiative. The agency apologized to affected Japanese municipalities and confirmed it has no plans to promote immigration, stressing that the local governments experienced overwhelming pressure due to misunderstandings linked to the program’s “hometown” designation concept.
Nigerian officials later corrected their statement to emphasize that the initiative does not involve special visa provisions but focuses on cultural and educational ties. Despite the clarification, the misinformation had already caused extensive backlash, leading JICA to withdraw the program entirely.
The incident highlights the sensitivities surrounding immigration policies in Japan, a country with stringent immigration controls and increasing anti-foreigner sentiment despite labor shortages. It also underscores the impact of social media in spreading misinformation and influencing bilateral cooperation initiatives.
JICA affirmed it continues to support international exchange and development partnerships with African nations, but the Africa Hometown initiative has been discontinued amid the ongoing controversy and public relations challenges.
