Nigeria just gained a brand-new “home away from home” — in Japan!
Lens News gathered that the Japanese government has officially dedicated Kisarazu, a city in Chiba Prefecture, as the recognized “hometown” for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country.
The announcement came during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where Japan unveiled fresh economic and cultural partnerships with several African nations. For Nigeria, the headline move was the Kisarazu designation — a city that already has history with Nigerians, having hosted Team Nigeria’s pre-Games training camp before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Under the deal, Japan is rolling out a special visa category targeting two groups:
-
Young Nigerians with top skills and innovation potential, and
-
Artisans and blue-collar workers open to training and upskilling.
According to findings by Lens News, the aim is to attract Nigerian talent into Japanese industries, while also reviving Kisarazu’s local economy as the country battles an aging population and shrinking workforce.
At a symbolic ceremony, Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe, received a certificate marking the city as Nigeria’s official hub in Japan.
Kisarazu joins a short list of other African “hometowns” in Japan — with Nagai linked to Tanzania, Sanjo tied to Ghana, and Imabari connected to Mozambique.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also announced a $5.5 billion investment plan for Africa, promising support for private-sector-driven growth, youth empowerment, and stronger ties between African communities and Japanese cities.
For Nigerians, though, the highlight is clear: a pathway to Japan through Kisarazu — where culture, work, and opportunity may blend into something bigger than diplomacy.
