Connect with us

World

Greyest village in Japan turns to Peru sister city to plug severe worker shortage

Published

13 minutes ago

on

Japan’s most greying municipality has turned to its Peruvian sister city in search of a way to reverse its population decline and address the labour shortage that together threaten its survival.
The mountain village of Nanmoku in Gunma prefecture, where 65.2 per cent of residents were aged 65 or older in the 2020 census, signed a sister-city agreement with Belen in northern Peru in November, hoping cultural exchanges under the framework will eventually bring young people to live and work in the Japanese village.

“In five years, we may no longer have enough people to support the community,” said Nanmoku Mayor Saijo Hasegawa, 73. “We need people from overseas if we are to survive.”

The village with a population of just 1,337 at the end of July once thrived on sericulture (silk farming) and forestry, but the labour shortage is now straining its essential services, with care workers in short supply and many of its community bus drivers in their seventies.

The move comes at a time when Japan as a country faces a labour shortage stemming from its low birth rate, and is increasingly turning to foreign workers, even as anti-immigrant sentiment has also grown among the public in recent years.

Nanmoku has tried to attract new residents from across Japan by introducing vacant homes to potential migrants and taking other steps to encourage relocation. It has also entrusted the operation of a nursing home and a roadside station to a non-profit organisation established by residents to enable more flexible hiring.

Related Topics:
News2 days ago

FAAN Spent N158.59bn against N98.39bn Limit, Audit Demands N60.2bn Refund – Secrets Reporters Nigeria
News2 days ago

₦367.99m in Financial Irregularities Uncovered in FCT Social Development Secretariat Under the Leadership of Hajiya Safiya Umar – Secrets Reporters Nigeria
Politics2 days ago

Osun 2026: INEC Under Scrutiny As Money Politics, Violence, Security Threats Test Nigeria’s Road To 2027
News2 days ago

Investigation Reveals NOTAP Channelled ₦138.8 Million Public Revenue into Staff Welfare, Sponsored Non-Staff Weddings and Approved Unauthorised Foreign Trips in Questionable Transactions – Secrets Reporters Nigeria
News2 days ago

₦35.46m Financial Irregularities Mars Dr. Aishatu Abubakar-Baju (AIG), Veterinary Council of Nigeria Leadership – Secrets Reporters Nigeria
Politics1 day ago

Ministers, Governors, Lawmakers You Rely On Are Not Working In Your Best Interest – Jonathan Vatsa Warns Tinubu
Entertainment2 days ago

“I paid for his visa, flight, hotel, rent, but he broke up with me 4 months after arriving UK” — Woman reveals
News1 day ago

Nigeria’s Atomic Energy Commission Paid ₦34m Without Documents, Lost Track of Store Items and Let a Former Chairman Drive Off With Official Toyota Camry – Secrets Reporters Nigeria
Entertainment23 hours ago

“Your prayer point is different from mine” – Businessman says as he proudly flaunts his thriving business
Entertainment1 day ago

“If you can’t pay for your flight ticket and don’t have a job, don’t marry” — Female pastor advises ladies

Trending