LDP lawmaker Shigeharu Aoyama criticized the government’s handling of the “hometown” program run by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has sparked controversy after being linked online to immigration.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel on Thursday, Aoyama dismissed the government’s explanation that the backlash was fueled by “misunderstandings on social media.” He argued that the confusion stemmed from official announcements, not just online speculation, and called for the program to be halted.
The issue flared after Nigeria’s government said Japan would issue special visas for young Nigerians seeking work or migration—claims later corrected at Tokyo’s request. But Aoyama questioned the Foreign Ministry’s account, saying the correction did not clearly state that no visas or residency rights were involved. He warned that many in Africa may still believe such visas exist.
Aoyama also faulted the Foreign Ministry for failing to anticipate misleading announcements abroad. “To say it was Nigeria acting on its own is just like blaming social media instead of addressing the cause,” he said. He insisted the program itself was flawed and should be suspended to prevent further misunderstanding.
by MagazineKey4532