A Japanese executive, Hiroshi Kasamatsu, detained in Myanmar for more than a month, has been released after being found guilty of violating rice pricing regulations, officials revealed on Tuesday. Kasamatsu, a director at Myanmar’s Aeon Orange supermarket, was arrested on June 30 for selling rice at prices higher than the official guidelines. Japan’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed his conviction for breaking laws related to daily necessities and services, resulting in a one-year prison sentence and a 500,000 kyat (approximately $150) fine.
Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for Myanmar’s ruling military council, stated that Kasamatsu was released on Monday afternoon. The Japanese Foreign Ministry mentioned that it was uncertain whether Kasamatsu would remain in Myanmar or return to Japan, stating that he was released from detention and in good health but declined to provide more details.
Rice holds significant importance in Myanmar, a nation grappling with economic instability amid civil unrest and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the military’s seizure of power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021, the country has witnessed widespread protests escalating into armed resistance.
Aeon Orange, a subsidiary of Japan’s retail giant Aeon group, operates numerous supermarkets in Myanmar. Aeon group did not offer immediate comments on the situation. Kasamatsu was one of the several foreign executives arrested on similar charges in Myanmar.
According to state-run Myanmar Alin newspaper, in early July, a total of 62 suspects were apprehended for allegedly inflating rice prices by 31% to 70% compared to the official prices set by the Myanmar Rice Federation. These arrests encompassed 102 warehouses, 53 supermarkets, 25 mills, and seven other stores across major cities.
Japan has traditionally upheld favorable relations with Myanmar. In contrast to many Western countries, Japan has pursued a lenient stance towards Myanmar’s military regime despite its human rights abuses and democratic erosion. Tokyo has refrained from imposing economic sanctions but does not condone the legitimacy of the current government, advocating for the restoration of democracy and channeling Japanese aid towards humanitarian causes.
