Nanmoku, a mountain village in Japan’s Gunma prefecture, is currently facing a critical demographic crisis. According to the 2020 census, 65.2% of the village's residents are aged 65 or older, making it the most elderly municipality in the country. To address the resulting labor shortages and the threat of total population collapse, local officials have signed a sister-city agreement with the town of Belen in northern Peru.

The partnership, finalized in November, is designed to foster cultural exchanges between the two regions. While the agreement is currently focused on cultural ties, Nanmoku officials have expressed hope that these connections will eventually lead to programs that encourage young people to move to the village for work. The initiative represents a strategic attempt to reverse the village's long-term decline by creating international pathways for migration and economic revitalization.

While the SCMP report focuses on the demographic data and the strategic intent behind the agreement, it does not detail the specific mechanisms or visa pathways that would allow Peruvian citizens to work in Nanmoku. The report frames the move as a survival strategy for a community struggling to maintain basic services due to its aging population. No other sources were provided to offer a counter-perspective or additional details regarding the feasibility of this plan.