Tag - jica

 
 

JICA

The “Africa Hometown Initiative,” announced by the Japan International Cooperation Agency at an African development conference in Yokohama in August, sought to foster exchanges that would help bridge four municipalities in Japan with four countries in Africa.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 25, 2025
JICA scraps Africa ‘hometown’ agreement after migration mixup
Persistent online misinformation about the plan being a ploy to ease immigration from Africa led to the initiative being canceled.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meets with Mozambique President Daniel Chapo during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama on Aug. 22.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 14, 2025
JICA's Africa 'hometown' project may be renamed
The renaming is being considered after false information about the project spread on social media, claiming it would lead to an increase in the number of immigrants.
First Lady Yoshiko Ishiba (center, in white and blue dress) hosts an event on Japanese culture with the first ladies of African leaders on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama on Aug. 21.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 27, 2025
Confusion over Japan’s ‘hometown’ plan overshadows African development event
Social media and news have focused more on the misinformation that Japan is accepting a large number of immigrants from Africa.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrives at a photo session for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reacts, in Yokohama, last week.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 26, 2025
Misinformation over JICA’s Africa ‘hometown’ initiative sparks controversy
Media reports claiming the initiative would include a special visa category for skilled Africans who want to come to Japan exacerbated the confusion.
The Japanese flag (left) with the flag of the African Union
JAPAN / Society
Aug 18, 2025
JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations
Officially connecting municipalities that already have existing ties with African countries will allow Japan to strengthen exchanges.
Agrolend CEO Andre Glezer (second from right), JICA Brazil Office chief Akihiro Miyazaki (far left) and others on Wednesday in Sao Paulo
BUSINESS / Companies
May 29, 2025
JICA signs deal to invest in Brazilian farming fintech firm
JICA hopes the investment will help ensure stable food procurement by Japan, which imports such crops as soybeans and corns from the South American agricultural giant.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi says Japan has sent officials to Myanmar to coordinate on the planned dispatch of an emergency relief team.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2025
Japan sends coordinating officials to Myanmar after earthquake
The officials are to arrange for the planned dispatch of an emergency relief team to the Southeast Asian nation hit by a magnitude-7.7 earthquake.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is responsible for most of Japan's overseas aid known as official development assistance.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 16, 2024
JICA staffer suspected of leaking info on Philippines railway project
The employee is thought to have intended to secure a contractor in advance to prevent delays to the ¥38.1 billion project.
A Vietnamese worker harvests tomatoes at a farm in Asahi, Chiba Prefecture.
JAPAN
Jul 4, 2024
Japan faces shortage of almost a million foreign workers in 2040
At the current pace, 5.91 million foreign people will be working in Japan in 2040
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 30, 2023
War highlights value of radio for Ukraine's public broadcaster
PBC Chairman Mykola Chernotytskyi stressed the value of the medium while taking part in training by NHK focused on developing emergency reporting systems.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 29, 2022
Activists demand stop to Japan-funded coal plant in climate-vulnerable Bangladesh
Climate campaigners said the project contradicts Japan's commitment, made with other wealthy G7 nations last May, to end funding for 'unabated' coal power overseas by the end of 2021.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2019
Ceremony marks 60th anniversary of Japan's development assistance to Brazil
A ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the start of Japan's official development assistance to Brazil was held Monday in Sao Paulo.
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2019
Vietnam to get Japan's first exported Earth observation satellite as part of disaster prevention initiative
A Japan-developed weather satellite will be exported to Vietnam under a Japanese public-private initiative, it was learned Wednesday.
JAPAN
Sep 14, 2019
Japanese agency plans to nurture Afghan industries in bid to provide employment, eradicate poverty
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has launched an initiative to nurture industrial activity in northern Afghanistan so that local residents can earn regular income in a bid to prevent them from joining extremist groups, it has been learned.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / Deep Dive
Nov 18, 2018
Miyazaki finds solution to IT labor crunch thousands of kilometers away
Like many of Japan's smaller cities, Miyazaki has been hit by a growing labor crunch, a trend highlighted by the mere 56.8 percent of high school graduates that chose to remain in the prefecture to work — third-worst among the 47 prefectures.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2018
India set to miss key target for Japan-backed bullet train project: sources
India is set to miss a December deadline to acquire land for a Japan-backed $17 billion (¥1.87 trillion) bullet train project following protests by fruit growers, government officials said, likely delaying one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most ambitious projects.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 14, 2018
Tanzanian man looks to transform Dar es Salaam's busy bus system using app he developed with Japan-based startup
It is not unusual for overseas visitors on their first visit to Japan to be impressed by the country's efficient rail network, with its heated seats and computerized message boards providing passengers with information updates.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 4, 2017
Japan, Asia Development Bank to promote universal health care in Asia-Pacific
Japan and the Asian Development Bank agree to promote Japanese-style universal health care in the Asia-Pacific as populations in the region turn increasingly gray.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2016
SDF is ordered to evacuate Japanese nationals from South Sudan
Amid fighting in South Sudan's capital, the Air Self-Defense Force is sent in to evacuate Japanese civilians there.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 5, 2015
Japan beating China to the port in Bangladesh
Japan is beating out China in a race to build Bangladesh's first deep-water port as the region's powers jostle for a foothold in the Indian Ocean.

Longform

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.