Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has resigned from his role following a widespread backlash against the government’s plans to begin importing migrants from Africa.
Ishiba made the announcement Sunday, revealing that he’s stepping down due to internal party pressure and public uproar over his government’s controversial “African Hometown” program.
The decision comes as his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faces falling poll numbers.
The LDP has come under rising criticism from both political opponents and the Japanese public.
Ishiba took office in October and has faced calls to resign for more than a month.
He argued that stepping down would create a political vacuum during a time when Japan is grappling with significant domestic and international challenges.
However, with the LDP scheduled to meet on Monday to decide whether to hold an early leadership election, Ishiba’s announcement preempted what was widely viewed as a looming no-confidence vote.
The resignation follows mounting controversy surrounding the African Hometown program, which was promoted under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The initiative was designated for four Japanese cities: Kisarazu, Sanjo, Nagai, and Imabari.
The cities were set to partner with Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.
The program quickly sparked outrage after the Nigerian government revealed the true agenda behind the plans.
It emerged that the plan would import workers from Africa under a “special visa.”
The Nigerian government announced that Japan would create “a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.”
Nigerian officials also said that “artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan.”
The plan offered no real advantages to the Japanese people.
The announcement set off a wave of anger among Japanese citizens, particularly in Kisarazu, where residents discovered that Google Maps had briefly labeled the city office as the “Nigerian city office.”
News of the Nigerian statement spread rapidly, leading residents in Sanjo, Nagai, and Imabari to flood their municipal offices with inquiries about the implications of the program.
Critics accused Ishiba’s administration of using the African Hometown program as a backdoor to introduce large-scale migration as Japan grapples with a deepening population crisis.
Many argue that the move contradicts longstanding government policies designed to limit immigration.
The controversy added fuel to Japan’s growing anti-immigration sentiment.
The public pushback against open border policies has been reflected in recent political gains by the right-wing Sanseito party.
The party campaigned on a “Japanese First” message and won significant victories in parliamentary elections earlier this year.
Japan has one of the fastest-shrinking populations in the world, with birth rates far below replacement levels.
The government has identified population decline as one of the most pressing crises facing the country.
Projections show significant impacts on the workforce and overall economic stability in the coming decades.
While some policymakers have argued that immigration is necessary to offset labor shortages, many in Japan remain opposed to policies that would significantly increase the number of foreign residents.
Ishiba’s resignation signals the end of a brief tenure that began less than a year ago.
His successor will inherit the dual challenges of managing Japan’s demographic decline while navigating public resistance to migration programs.
The LDP leadership election will determine the direction of the party and government as Japan faces growing domestic pressures and international scrutiny.
The controversy over the African Hometown program is expected to remain a central issue in the leadership race.
Candidates will now seek to distance themselves from Ishiba’s policies and respond to voter demands for stricter immigration controls.
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