13 October

A Myanmar Tatmadaw goodwill delegation visiting Japan led by Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was hosted to a dinner by Nippon Foundation President Mr Yohei Sasakawa and Japan-Myanmar Friendship Association President Mr Hideo Watanabe at the New Otani Hotel Hoon No Ma Hall on the evening of 10 October.

At the dinner Nippon Foundation President Mr Yohei Sasakawa, Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Myint Thu, Japan-Myanmar Friendship Association President Mr Hideo Watanabe, Komeito Party President and member of the House of Councillors Mr Natsuo Yamaguchi, CDP Party leader and member of the House of Representatives Mr Yukio Edano, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Mr Katsunobu Kato, former Minister for Defence Mr Itsunori Onodera, and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, member of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and House of Representative Mr Taro Aso delivered messages of greetings.

The Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief in return offered his deep appreciation to Nippon Foundation President, Japan-Myanmar Friendship Association President and officials for involving themselves deeply towards achieving peace in Myanmar. It was the duty of the people at the present to take lessons from the past and create a better future. Japan’s financial assistances are measurable but do not have any strings attached to it and their impact on reducing pressures was not measurable and invaluable. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing spoke of his immense pleasure and honor and his appreciation for different organizations and people working together for Myanmar single-mindedly.

On the morning of 11 October, the Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief and party left Tokyo station by Shinkansen (bullet train) to Urasa to observe Japan’s rail transport system. From there they inspected a brewery producing Japan’s traditional Hakkaisan Sake in Minami Uonuma Town.

Later in the afternoon, the Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief met with Myanmar students attending the International University of Japan (IUJ) in Niigata Town. The Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief presented commemorative gifts to Rector Dr Hiroyuki Itami and head of faculty of post-graduate international relations studies Dr Aung Myo. He also presented food and cash gifts to the students.

From there, the Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief and party went to visit Yabukami 2 Power Station and Kamijo Power Station in Niigata Prefecture.

The Tatmadaw goodwill delegation then visited Sekijyosan Saifukuji Temple in Niigata Prefecture Urasa Town, according to news released by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services. 

MNA(Translated by Zaw Min)