The Myanmar junta should hold a dialogue with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whom it detained last week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday.
"The situation does not look good. We hope to call on the government to hold talks," Fukuda said.
Myanmar's military government said Saturday that Suu Kyi and members of the National League for Democracy have been placed in "protective custody."
Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Japan's measures to help Myanmar's "democratization" and to promote a market economy will remain unchanged for now.
"More political prisoners are being released, and progress is being seen in democratization," Kawaguchi told a news conference. "At this moment in time, we are not thinking of changing Japan's policies."