{
  "id": 2953062,
  "title": "Myanmar workers describe abuse, living 'in fear' at Hokkaido farm",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/myanmar-workers-describe-abuse-living-in-fear-at-hokkaido-farm",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T05:37:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260824/p2a/00m/0na/011000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a harrowing press conference on August 21, six Myanmar workers shared harrowing accounts of physical and verbal abuse endured at a farm in Hokkaido. One worker described living in constant fear, wondering what violent act awaited him each day. The alleged assaults targeted foreign employees working under a specified skilled worker residence status at a farm operated by an agricultural corporation in Kyogoku, Hokkaido. The corporation had hired a total of about 30 Myanmar workers since May, with more than 20 still employed on the farm. A young man attending the conference recalled his initial hope for Japan, only to be met with abuse and verbal torment upon starting his job. Another worker, also in his 20s, was struck several times on the thigh with a stainless steel rod after damaging harvested produce. Three of the four women among the group managed to flee the farm's dormitory at night and were taken in by the labor union, while the remaining woman escaped alone to Aomori Prefecture before arriving in Sapporo. Two of the women shared the harrowing experience of being struck with a metal rod. Hajime Suzuki, an adviser to the Sapporo General Union, criticized the corporation, questioning whether such treatment contributes positively to Japan's industry and society.",
  "summary": "SAPPORO -- A group of six Myanmar workers tearfully described frequent violence and verbal abuse at a farm in Hokkaido to reporters at an Aug. 21 pres",
  "key_points": [
    "Six Myanmar workers describe abuse at Hokkaido farm",
    "Workers live in constant fear of daily violence",
    "Three women escape, two struck with metal rods"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}