A Japanese businessman who was detained in Myanmar for about a month and a half for allegedly breaching controls on rice prices has returned to Japan.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry says Kasamatsu Hiroshi departed from Myanmar on Tuesday night, and arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Wednesday morning. The ministry says he is in good health.
Kasamatsu is the chief of the merchandise division at supermarket operator Aeon Orange, a local unit of Japanese retail giant Aeon.
The 53-year-old was detained by police in June for allegedly selling rice at prices higher than levels set by the military. He was sentenced by a local court to one year in prison.
Kasamatsu was released from a facility in Yangon on Monday.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry says it had strongly urged Myanmar authorities to release Kasamatsu, and is relieved to confirm that he has returned to Japan safely.
Ministry officials say they will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals abroad.