(AI Generated News Translation)
Regarding the exchange program that designates certain Japanese municipalities as “hometowns” of African countries, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi addressed the spread of misinformation—such as claims that the program is intended to “settle immigrants.” He clarified that the program does not aim to promote immigration and stated the government’s intention to carefully explain its actual purpose.
In connection with the recent TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) designated four Japanese municipalities as “hometowns” of African countries and announced plans to promote exchange programs. However, on social media, misinformation has spread, suggesting that the program is a system for permanently settling immigrants.
At a press conference following a cabinet meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said of the “hometown” initiative:
He also addressed a statement on the Nigerian government’s website, which claimed that the Japanese government would issue special visas to young people wishing to migrate, live, and work in Japan.
Kisarazu Mayor: “No Truth to Claims of Accepting Immigrants”
In Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture — which was designated as a "hometown" of Nigeria — protest calls continued non-stop on the 26th, following a similar situation on the 25th. Callers asked questions such as “Why are you accepting immigrants?” and “What will you do if a large influx of immigrants causes a deterioration in public safety?” City staff spent the entire day responding to these inquiries.
According to the city, more than 700 such inquiries had been submitted through its website by the 25th. At a press conference on the 26th, Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe stated: “There is no truth to the claims circulating on social media about accepting immigrants, promoting migration, or loosening visa requirements. Misinformation is spreading without proper fact-checking and is having real-world consequences. We must make a concerted effort to communicate accurate information moving forward.”
by YellaKuttu