Japan’s oldest village seeks residents in Peru
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Residents of Nanmoku, Japan, a village with an aging population, recently hosted the mayor of Belen, Peru, and two young women to explore a potential partnership.
Nanmoku, located in Gunma Prefecture, is the oldest municipality in Japan, with 70 percent of its 1,300 residents aged 65 or older.
A 2014 report identified the village as being at high risk of disappearing due to its declining population and limited births, around 60 people die each year, with only two or three babies born. Village officials signed a sister-city agreement with Belen, a district of Iquitos in Peru, hoping to attract young people to address Nanmoku’s demographic challenges. Belen, with a median age of 27, faces economic hardship and limited job opportunities, leading some residents to consider opportunities abroad.
While the exact process for Peruvian residents to gain residency in Japan remains unclear, Nanmoku Mayor Saijo Hasegawa hopes to welcome long-term residents, not just temporary workers. The initiative arose from a chance meeting with a Japanese-Peruvian businessman, and reflects a desire to broaden the village’s horizons. Despite Japan’s growing opposition to immigration and the practical challenges of language and transportation, some Nanmoku residents welcome the possibility of a more diverse and revitalized community.
Mayor Hasegawa believes welcoming people from Belen as fellow villagers will help ensure the village doesn’t lose essential services like public transportation.
