Business
JICA Withdraws Cultural Exchange Plan Linking Japanese Cities to Africa
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has officially discontinued its “Africa Hometown” initiative following widespread misunderstanding and resistance from local governments in Japan. The program, introduced during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in August, aimed to designate four Japanese cities as symbolic “hometowns” for four African nations to promote cultural and economic exchange.
JICA explained that the term “hometown” and the concept of assigning Japanese municipalities to African countries led to confusion and placed undue pressure on the selected cities. The agency acknowledged that the initiative’s structure was not clearly defined and that the designation process caused concern among stakeholders.
In response, JICA issued an apology to the affected municipalities and confirmed that consultations with local and international partners led to the decision to terminate the project.
The agency also clarified that the initiative had been misinterpreted by some as a pathway for immigration. JICA emphasized that it does not promote immigration through its programs and has no intention of doing so.
Despite the cancellation, JICA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering meaningful relationships between Japanese local governments and African nations. Future collaborations will focus on education, business, and cultural exchange, without the complications associated with the “hometown” label.
Earlier announcements had linked Kisarazu City in Japan with Nigeria, and other cities with Tanzania, Ghana, and Mozambique. However, Kisarazu officials later clarified that the partnership did not imply immigration plans for Nigerians.
JICA remains focused on building institutional and people-to-people ties through well-defined and mutually beneficial frameworks.
