The team, which includes foreign ministry officials and police, will hold about a day of talks in Yangon on the death of video journalist Kenji Nagai.

While diplomats have headed to Yangon previously over the case, it is believed to be the first time that police are taking part.

Japanese officials will 'ask for further explanations on the case from Myanmar officials,' a foreign ministry official told reporters.

In particular, he said the team would discuss an autopsy conducted in Japan showing that the journalist was likely shot dead from a close range of just within one metre, the official said.

Nagai, 50, worked for APF News, a small agency based in Tokyo that specialises in reports from danger zones where most Japanese television networks dare not tread.

Mr Nagai was killed on September 27 as troops cracked down on rising pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.

Television footage showed him apparently being shot at close range by security forces.

Japan cancelled nearly five million dollars in aid to Myanmar in protest against the crackdown and the killing of the reporter.

But Japan, in a rare break with its Western allies, has refused to end aid completely to Myanmar, preferring the approach of most Asian nations of trying to engage the military regime.

The United Nations has said at least 31 people were killed during the peaceful anti-government protests. -- AFP