Reuters: A Japanese freelance journalist being held by militants in Syria appeared to surface on video published by Japanese media on Wednesday, pleading for help after three years in captivity, the government said.
Japan’s top government spokesman said he believed the man is Jumpei Yasuda.
The bearded man, in an orange jumpsuit, is kneeling, surrounded by two hooded gunmen in black. In the video shown on var
ious media websites, he says in Japanese in a strained voice, “My name is Umar. I am South Korean. Today’s date is July 25, 2018. I am in a terrible situation. Please help me immediately.”
It was not clear why he identified himself as Korean or used that name.
“It is the government’s prime responsibility to protect Japanese, and we are making the utmost efforts, using various information networks,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference. He declined to comment further.
A Foreign Ministry official said the government believes Yasuda holds Japanese nationality.