Japan unveils special visa, names city as hometown for Nigerians

The government of Japan has named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country.

This is part of Japan’s strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity.

Under the new partnership, announced on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development on Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Japanese government will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan.

Japan International Cooperation Agency, in a ceremony, also named the cities of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture the hometown of Mozambique.

Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations, Oladunjoye stated.

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Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, also the Acting Ambassador to Japan, and Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government naming Kisarazu the hometown of Nigerians.

Oladunjoye added: “The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development that will add value to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations.

“Local authorities hope that the designations will increase the population of their cities, contributing to their regional revitalisation efforts.”

Kisarazu was the official host town of the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team conducted their pre-games training camps and acclimatisation in the city before moving to the Olympic village, in the COVID-19 delayed Olympic Games.

As of December 1, 2020, Kisarazu had an estimated population of 136,023 in 63,431 households.

The Star