The National Unity Government of Myanmar, a group formed in the wake of last February's coup to represent the pro-democracy movement in its fight against the junta, sent a letter last month to Japan asking to be recognized as a legitimate governing body, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.
In the letter addressed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, the shadow government also said it plans to establish a representative office in Japan to counter the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo, which is under the influence of the military government.
The NUG has opened representative offices in several other locations including the United States, Britain and South Korea.