On Friday, the Nigerian government announced that Kisarazu City has been officially designated as Nigeria’s hometown in Japan.
According to a press statement released by the Nigerian government, the announcement for the designation of Kisarazu City in Chiba Prefecture as the official hometown for Nigerians was unveiled at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
Aside from announcing Kisarazu as Nigeria’s hometown in Japan, a special visa scheme to attract skilled workers, students, and professionals from Nigeria was also agreed upon between the two countries.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass in this report takes a look at things to know about Kisarazu, Nigeria’s hometown in Japan;
1. Kisarazu is located on the Bōsō Peninsula. It is a 40-minute drive from Tokyo via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line tunnel.
2. The official population of Kisarazu as of 2020 is about 136,000 residents. Japan’s population agency also noted that Kisarazu is facing the challenge of an aging population.
3. The city’s economy thrives on manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Companies like Tokyo Gas have facilities, providing jobs.
4. Kisarazu is renowned for its clams harvested at Egawa Beach. Other local delights include seafood dishes, ramen, udon, and festival snacks like takoyaki and taiyaki.
5. The cultural landmarks of Kisarazu include the Kisarazu Port Tower for panoramic views and the Ankokuji Temple for serene history.
6. Also, Natural attractions include beaches and Mount Kana. Kisarazu also has outdoor adventures like hiking and surfing.
7. Like the rest of Japan, Kisarazu uses the yen (¥), with notes in ¥1,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000 denominations and coins ranging from ¥1 to ¥500.
8. Shinto and Buddhism are the top religions in the city. While Christianity and Islam are minority religions in Japan, there are small churches and international congregations in Kisarazu.
9. Kisarazu, like the rest of Japan, operates on Japan Standard Time (UTC+9), while Nigeria runs on West Africa Time (UTC+1). This means Kisarazu is eight hours ahead of Nigeria.
10. Kisarazu city operates under Japan’s municipal system, with a directly elected mayor and a city assembly.
