Japan's JICA Africa Hometown program has sparked controversy over whether it signals an immigration policy, given the name and regional focus, but government officials say it is a temporary internship program, not immigration. A planned 2027 reform called training and employment would widen the scope of Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 to 11 sectors and target about 820000 entrants, fueling concerns of a de facto immigration expansion. Critics warn of possible visa routes and loopholes that could increase foreign residents, while JICA notes that past internship programs have led some interns to stay in Japan or obtain work visas, though many return home. Some BBC reporting and debates note misunderstandings about long-term resident healthcare, but policymakers argue foreign labor is needed for economic reasons even as public unease persists.