JICA「ホームタウン」認定にんてい事業じぎょう撤回てっかい 交流こうりゅうへの支援しえんは継続けいぞくへ

JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency has decided to withdraw its exchange program that designated domestic municipalities as hometowns of African countries, due to a series of protests against municipalities based on incorrect information and the resulting excessive burden.

JICA will continue to support exchanges.

In conjunction with TICAD Tokyo International Conference on African Development held in Yokohama in August, JICA designated four municipalities—Nagai City in Yamagata Prefecture, Kisarazu City in Chiba Prefecture, Sanjo City in Niigata Prefecture, and Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture—as hometowns for African countries and promoted exchange programs.

However, since misinformation such as Its a system to settle immigrants has been spreading on social media and there have been a series of protest calls and emails to local governments, JICA, after discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local governments, has decided to withdraw the project, citing the continued excessive burden.

JICA President Akihiko Tanaka said at a press conference on the 25th, We believe we have taken immediate measures to correct any misunderstandings, but in light of the impact on the daily operations of local governments, we have decided to withdraw.

I have absolutely no sense of having given in to confusion. I came up with the idea to carry out meaningful activities through cooperation between Japanese and foreigners, but considering the possibility that the necessary environment may not be in place, I thought it would be more beneficial to withdraw, he said.

On the other hand, regarding how to respond when misunderstandings or misinformation spread on social media, Its not like we have a solution that will make everything go smoothly.

I think it means to provide information as accurately and politely as possible, he said.

At JICA, international exchange projects are considered a long-term investment for Japan to gain trust in the international community, and support for such exchanges will continue.

Foreign Minister Iwaya apologized and said, We will strive to gain broad understanding. Regarding the exchange program that designates domestic municipalities as hometowns of African countries, JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency has withdrawn the project, citing a series of protests against municipalities based on incorrect information and the continued excessive burden.

Foreign Minister Iwaya, who oversees JICA, apologized to reporters during his visit to New York, saying, I am sorry that the very idea of designating local governments as home towns caused misunderstandings and confusion within the country, resulting in an excessive burden on the municipalities.

On that basis, regarding the future direction of international exchange projects, the understanding and support of the public are prerequisites for promoting international exchange, and we would like to make efforts to gain broad understanding.

He also stated, We would like to provide explanations to the government of the other country more carefully than ever before, and ensure thoroughness in this matter.