Japan has denied plans to accept more immigrants from Africa following the designation of “Africa Hometown” cities after a conference on African development.
Kyodo News reports that after four Japanese cities were designated for strengthening ties with Africa, the city governments have been inundated with calls and emails, with concerns that an increase in African migrants would exacerbate public disorder.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Tokyo has “no plans to take measures to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries.”
“There have been reports and statements both domestically and internationally that contain information contrary to the facts,” the ministry stated.
The ministry emphasised that the government-linked aid agency, known as JICA, only plans to promote exchanges through various activities.
Under the JICA Africa Hometown program, four cities were assigned to African nations; Mabari in Ehime Prefecture was paired with Mozambique, Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture with Nigeria, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture with Ghana, and Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture with Tanzania.