• JICA cancels Africa exchange program after viral immigration rumors
• Misreport claimed Japan would grant visas to Nigerians in Kisarazu
• Elon Musk’s comment amplified backlash amid Japan’s immigration debate

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced on Thursday, Sept. 25, that it is withdrawing its "JICA Africa Hometown" initiative following a viral online backlash driven by false rumors that the program was intended to enable mass African immigration to Japan.

The cultural exchange program was designed to pair four Japanese municipalities with four African nations: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

"Reactions spread based on misunderstandings and confusion," JICA President Akihiko Tanaka said. Agency officials told Japanese public broadcaster NHK that the decision to pull the program was made after consulting with all parties involved.

Confusion surrounding the initiative intensified after a government statement from Nigeria incorrectly claimed that Japan would create a special visa category for highly skilled young Nigerians to settle in Kisarazu, the town paired with Nigeria. While the Nigerian government later issued a correction, it failed to quell criticism from Japanese internet users.

The rumors gained significant traction on X (formerly Twitter), championed by influential figures like Elon Musk. The billionaire reacted to the news by posting: "If this continues, there will be no Japan, just some islands where Japanese people used to live." His comment helped legitimize alarmist narratives from certain populist groups in Japan.

Immigration is a particularly sensitive topic in Japan, where foreigners account for barely 3 percent of the population. Facing an approximately 11 percent increase in the number of foreign residents in 2024, the conservative Nippon Ishin no Kai party submitted a series of proposals in mid-September aimed at setting a cap on the total proportion of foreigners in the national population.

While JICA pledged to maintain its support for international exchanges, the incident highlights the significant weight online rumors and misinformation now carry in influencing public and political decisions.

Servan Ahougnon