Good Intentions Can't Disguise Foreign Ministry Miss in 'Hometown' Fiasco

Recently, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) designated each of the four Japanese cities as a "hometown" of four African countries. The move sparked widespread concern and criticism, with some in Japan claiming the move amounted to an invitation to immigrants. As a result, the foreign ministry and Japanese cities concerned have been inundated with complaints.

The "hometown" designations were announced in conjunction with the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which was held in Yokohama in August.

There is nothing wrong with the initiative itself, which strengthens exchanges between African countries and local governments in Japan. However, the rollout of the program was seriously flawed.

Misunderstandings from the Rollout

Government announcements and media reports in Africa suggested that citizens from those countries would be relocated to Japan. Take the case of Kisarazu City in Chiba Prefecture, which was named as Nigeria's "hometown." The Nigerian government initially issued a statement stating, "The Japanese government will establish a special visa system for highly skilled young people."

Similarly, Nagai City in Yamagata Prefecture was recognized as Tanzania's "hometown." Soon thereafter, local Tanzanian media reported that "Japan has dedicated Nagai City to Tanzania."

Locals in these countries may be delighted with the thought of their nationals immigrating to Japan. But the fact is that Japan is not a nation of immigrants, so such relocation is out of the question. It is only natural that the reports caused unease among members of the Japanese public.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and JICA bear heavy responsibility for causing this misunderstanding. They should seriously reflect on what they did to cause this embarrassing failure and thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the affair.

'Hometown' or 'Furusato'

Translating the Japanese term furusato into the English word "hometown" may have been one factor behind the misunderstanding. To the Japanese people, furusato has deep emotional connections that "hometown" does not quite capture.

Unfortunately, the four African countries developed excessive expectations from the use of "hometown." As a consequence, the misunderstanding ended up pouring cold water on possibilities for truly fruitful exchanges.

*Demonstrators call for the foreign ministry to revoke the "hometown" program for African countries in central Tokyo on August 28. (©Sankei by Shinpei Okuhara)*

Foreigners in Japan became a major issue during the recent House of Councillors election. That is because crimes and nuisances committed by foreigners have become more prominent recently. Accordingly, resident concerns about the deterioration of public safety in their towns and neighborhoods have become more vocal. The government needs to take the concerns of these Japanese citizens more seriously.

Also, even when pursuing international exchanges, the government must stay alert to the impact on local communities and proceed with due care.

Responsible Corrections in Africa

After being notified about the misunderstanding by the Japanese government, the African governments and media outlets concerned corrected the relevant content.

Nonetheless, even after that, a protest demonstration calling for the withdrawal of the Hometown Project was staged in front of JICA headquarters in central Tokyo. Local governments also continue to receive a stream of complaints and protests opposing immigration and relocation under the project. Social media remains rife with criticism as well.

The mess created by the "hometown" misfire could hinder Japan's relations with the four countries concerned. That would be unfortunate because it would only benefit China and Russia, which are pursuing stronger influence in Africa. This is a point which the Japanese government must keep firmly in mind.

(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun