Reuters/Tokyo

Japan yesterday condemned a recording purporting to announce the execution of a Japanese citizen held by Islamic State militants and demanded the immediate release of another captive depicted as appearing on the image.
“This is an outrageous and unacceptable act of violence,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters as he arrived at his office after midnight. “We strongly demand the immediate release” of the remaining captive, Kenji Goto.”
He later said the government would spare no effort to secure the release of the remaining captive.
Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga condemned what he said was “a video showing what appears to be a murdered Japanese, Mr Haruna Yukawa, as well as Mr Kenji Goto.”
Relevant government ministers would meet to discuss the situation as the government gathers information, Suga told reporters, declining to take questions.
Reuters could not independently verify the audio message, which if confirmed would be the first time the group, which has beheaded several foreign hostages, has issued an audio message rather than a video showing the actual event.
A deadline by Islamic State militants for Japan to pay a $200mn ransom for Yukawa and Goto expired on Friday.
The recording yesterday purported to show Goto saying Yukawa had been executed and that the militants would release him in exchange for the release of Al Qaeda linked attempted female suicide bomber Sajida Rishwai, an Iraqi held in Jordan.
In the video, Goto allegedly pleads for his life, saying his captors no longer wanted money for his release.
“These could be my last words. Don’t let these be my last words you ever hear,” Goto allegedly says in English.
Deputy Foreign Minister Yasuhide Nakayama, who was heading Japan’s efforts to rescue its two nationals out of Jordan’s capital Amman, told reporters: “It is a very difficult path to see their release, despite a variety of routes.
“We are focusing on scrutinising information over again. We will never give up. We will bring them home.”
The Japanese media has rallied around Goto, a respected and experienced war reporter whose work has appeared on domestic television channels.
In video footage he filmed around the time he entered Syria, he holds identification papers and his Japanese passport and explains that he is aware of the risks.
“Whatever happens, I am the one who is responsible,” he says. “I am asking you, Japanese people, do not place responsibility on the people of Syria. Please. I am sure I will come back alive though.”