In Japan, the transfer of cities to African countries is simplified through defragmentation

• Japan simplifies the procedure for granting cities to African countries.
• The program provides for cultural exchanges, not immigration.
• The Japanese government is taking steps to correct the defragmentation.

In Japan, there has been a superfluous announcement about a program aimed at strengthening friendly ties between Japan and African countries. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced the designation of four Japanese cities as "sister cities" for partner countries in Africa: Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania. The program includes exchanges of personnel and cultural events.

After the announcement of the program on social media, there were hybrid notifications that confirmed that African countries are entitled to immigration to Japan. This sparked a wave of xenophobic comments and panic among Japanese communities. For example, the city of Imabari received nearly 1000 electronic letters and 450 phone calls regarding new immigration policies.

The Japanese government, including the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, emphasized that the program does not provide for the acceptance of immigrants or the issuance of special visas. Local officials also made public statements to clarify that the program does not foresee changes in immigration policy.

Criticism of the defragmentation increased after some media outlets incorrectly interpreted the terms, which led to misconceptions about the transfer of cities to African countries. For instance, one of the articles stated that the city of Nabari was "designated" for Tanzania, which elicited negative reactions.

JICA and the Japanese government urged African governments to correct the information, as this contributed to an increase in xenophobia in Japan, where traditionally there is a protective stance towards immigration.

Tags: Politics