Across Japan, IS video shocks all

Associated Press

TOKYO

From the prime minister to ordinary people, Japanese were shocked Sunday at a video purportedly showing one of two Japanese hostages of the extremist Islamic State group had been killed.

With attention focused on efforts to save the other hostage, some also criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s drive for a more-assertive Japan as responsible for the hostage crisis.

A somber Abe appeared on public broadcaster NHK early Sunday demanding the militants release 47-year-old journalist Kenji Goto unharmed. He said the video was likely authentic, although he added that the government was still reviewing it. He offered condolences to the family and friends of Haruna Yukawa, a 42-year-old adventurer taken hostage in Syria last year. Abe declined to comment on the message in the video, which demanded a prisoner exchange for Goto. He said only that the government was still working on the situation.

On a visit to India, President Barack Obama said the U.S. will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Japan and called for the immediate release of Goto.

About 100 protesters demonstrated late Sunday in front of the prime minister’s residence, demanding Abe save Goto.