Attempt to partner African countries with Japanese cities triggers xenophobic backlash

The city of Imabari in Japan. A plan to partner four Japanese cities with four African countries has sparked a xenophocic backlash in Japan. Photograph: Takayan/Getty Images

An attempt to promote friendship between Japan and countries in Africa has transformed into a xenophobic row about migration after inaccurate media reports suggested the scheme would lead to a “flood of immigrants”.

The controversy erupted after the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, said this month it had designated four Japanese cities as “Africa hometowns” for partner countries in Africa: Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania.