Japan doubles efforts to save Japanese hostage from ISIL captivity

World Today

Tokyo said the ISIL video, that purported to show the beheaded body of one of the Japanese hostages is “likely authentic.” Japan is doubling efforts to save the second hostage and ISIL’s terms for release have changed. CCTV’s Terrence Terashima reported this story from Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shown a picture of Japanese ISIL hostage Kenji Goto holding a decapitated photo of Japanese ISIL hostage Haruna Yuakawa just past midnight in Tokyo. The photo was posted on the internet.

“These sorts of terrorist acts of violence are outrageous and unforgivable,” Prime Minister Abe said. “I feel deep resentment and resolutely condemn these acts.”

Although feeling sympathetic for the hostages, the Japanese public have mixed feelings about the recent development.

“The feeling is mixed. They went there at their own risk, but we cannot just wipe our hands of responsibility,” a Tokyo resident who did not provide their name said. “Then again we cannot suggest paying the ransom to rescue them.”

Nonetheless, the pain the families are going through is unimaginable.

“I still have this hope deep in my heart that this is not true,” Shoichi Yukawa, Haruna Yukawa’s father said. “If I am ever reunited with him, I just want to give him a big hug.”

The Islamic State militants have made a new demand, Japanese government has not disclosed the progress.

“We are asking for cooperation from the related countries, including Jordan. But we cannot disclose the content of our discussions as the situation is still developing,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

The militant’s demand has changed from $200 million to exchange of Mr. Goto with a female suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, who is being held in a Jordan jail.

But for the Japanese government the course of action remains the same: working closely with Jordan and other middle Eastern countries for the release of Kenji Goto.