Nanmoku, Japan, seeks new residents from Peruvian Amazon

Nanmoku, a village in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, is attempting to combat extreme population aging by inviting residents from the Peruvian Amazon to relocate to the area. As the municipality with the oldest population in Japan, 70% of its 1,300 inhabitants are aged 65 or older. In 2014, studies identified the village as being at high risk of disappearing.

Following a sister-city agreement between Nanmoku and the Peruvian city of Belén, officials and local youth recently visited Nanmoku to foster cultural ties. Nanmoku Mayor Saijo Hasegawa stated that the locality must expand its horizons and attract new residents, including foreigners, to prevent the collapse of essential services like public transportation.

While the initiative aims to attract young people from Belén, specific pathways for obtaining residency remain unclear. Peru holds the third-largest Nikkei population (descendants of Japanese immigrants) in the world, which may play a role in these cultural exchanges.