Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced Sunday that he will step down following months of 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 and rising criticism from both political opponents and the Japanese public.
Ishiba, 68, took office in October and has faced calls to resign for more than a month.
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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 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).
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The initiative designated four Japanese cities — Kisarazu, Sanjo, Nagai, and Imabari — to partner with cities in Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.
The program quickly sparked outrage after 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 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, a move many said contradicted longstanding government policies designed to limit immigration.
The controversy added fuel to Japan’s growing anti-immigration sentiment, which 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, with projections showing 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, as candidates seek to distance themselves from Ishiba’s policies and respond to voter demands for stricter immigration controls.
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