Japan's finance minister pledges to cancel Myanmar debt

(Reuters) - Japan's new government confirmed its support for the emerging democracy in Myanmar on Thursday when Finance Minister Taro Aso visited the country to reaffirm Japan's intention to cancel debt and help develop a big industrial zone.

Myanmar has implemented rapid economic and political reforms since President Thein Sein's quasi-civilian government took over from a long-ruling military junta in March 2011 and Japan has moved quickly to cement business ties.

Aso, also deputy prime minister, had already arranged the visit, prior to his ministerial appointment after an election last month, in his capacity as a senior member of the Japan-Myanmar Association, a lobby group set up to advance Japanese business interests in the Southeast Asian country.

Protests in Japan as nuclear reactor restarts

Dozens of people protest against decision to bring back online one of the Ohi nuclear plant's reactors in western Japan.

Japan's nuclear reactors have all been shut down since the Fukushima disaster [Reuters]

Dozens of protesters in Japan have shouted and danced at the gate of a nuclear power plant after it restarted, the first to go back online since the country shut down all of its reactors for safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Ohi nuclear plant's reactor No 3, in the western Fukui Prefecture, returned to operation on Sunday evening despite a deep division in public opinion.

Last month, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered the restarts of reactors No 3 and nearby No 4, saying people's living standards cannot be maintained without nuclear energy.

Many citizens are against a return to nuclear power because of safety fears after the Fukushima accident in March last year.

Crowds of tens of thousands of people had gathered on Friday evening around Noda's official residence, chanting, "Saikado hantai," or "No to nuclear restarts."

Protests drawing such numbers are extremely rare in Japan, often known for orderly conformity.

A demonstration in Tokyo protesting against the restart and demanding Noda resign was planned in a major park on Sunday.