An editorial in April by the Nikkei Weekly newspaper states that Japan is losing its status as the leading international aid donor as the government continues to reduce official development assistance (ODA).

The newspaper goes on to state that this decline in status is a sad but natural consequence of Japan's massive public debt, and that the government needs to make ODA more efficient.

The article recognizes that the government is taking steps in the right direction with restructuring of aid organizations, such as JICA taking control of all aid programs from 2008.

The editorial suggests that Africa receive more aid, keeping the promise to double ODA to the region within three years.