Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture as the “hometown for Nigerians” in the country.
The announcement was made on Thursday on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), shortly after President Bola Tinubu concluded his visit to Japan.
Under the new arrangement, Kisarazu will serve as a hub for Nigerians living and working in Japan, with the government unveiling a special visa category to attract skilled professionals, artisans, and blue-collar workers from Nigeria, a statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the
Director of Information, State House, said.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe, received the certificate formalising the city’s new status.
Japan’s initiative also extended to three other African nations. Nagai was designated the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo for Ghana, and Imabari for Mozambique. Local authorities said the move is expected to revitalise regional economies and strengthen bilateral cooperation.