The top or most interesting stories from Japan – January 23
– The ransom deadline for two Japanese hostages, Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa, captured by ISIS, is today but yesterday the Japanese government was remaining tight lipped on the whether the ultimately planned to pay the ransom.
However, on Thursday, government officials including General Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said they had struggled to actually establish contact with the hostage takers and guarantee the safety of Goto and Yukawa.
With the help of both the Jordanian and Turkish governments, Japan has even tried contacting ISIS through third parties such as tribes, but to no avail. (The Japan Times, The Japan News)
– Japanese blogs and Twitter accounts have turned against Goto and Yukawa, criticising their choices to go to Syria and arguing the Japanese government shouldn’t have to take responsibility for the pair.
Previous hostages released after the government agreed to demands were booed at the airport upon their return and were the focus of a lot of criticism long after their ordeal.
However, Japan has paid for its hostages before, but hasn’t always so readily admitted it.
– It’s been revealed Kenji Goto’s wife received a ransom email in November demanding ¥2 billion (USD$17 million) for his release, but it appears she didn’t report the emails to the Japanese government.
– Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota has seen sales climb worldwide as it remains the world’s top-selling car maker. At the same time, 51 countries will relax inspection regulations on hydrogen-fuel celled vehicles (FCVs); Toyota began to mass produce its FCV models in December.
– Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukada has urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to apologise on Japan’s behalf for the atrocities of World War II and advised him to stay away from Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japanese war criminals.
