Recently, the Nigerian presidential office announced that the Japan International Cooperation Agency is promoting a "special visa" for high-tech young talents from Africa, positioning four Japanese cities as "second hometowns" for these individuals. This statement sparked significant debate in Japan, prompting the government to quickly clarify the inaccuracies.
The Japanese government explained that the term "second hometown" originated from the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held last week. The Japan International Cooperation Agency selected four cities, including Kisarazu, to foster friendly relations with corresponding African nations. The "second hometown" phrase was deemed a translation error.
The controversy ignited heated discussions on Japanese social media, leading to a wave of xenophobic sentiments. Some users expressed concerns that this initiative would encourage African migration to Japan, while others criticized the idea of "handing over" their hometowns. Local governments faced a barrage of phone calls and emails from citizens protesting the initiative.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that the online rumors were baseless, asserting, "We have no plans to promote immigration or issue special visas." Following the backlash, the Nigerian presidential office removed the contentious phrasing, revising the statement to emphasize that the project aims to "strengthen cultural ties between the two countries."
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