The top or most interesting stories from Japan for January 23
– As the 72 hour ransom deadline for hostages Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa passed, public broadcaster NHK announced they’d contacted ISIS who told them they would release a video soon. But at the time of writing said video had failed to materialise.
At a Cabinet meeting on Friday morning, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged his colleagues to do all they can to work towards freeing the hostages.
– Kenji Goto’s mother pleaded to the Japanese government and ISIS for his safe release. She cites that Goto’s work as a freelance journalist in war zones was reflective of his desires to save the children and make the world a better place. (The Japan Times, NHK)
Meanwhile Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has offered Australia’s support to Shinzo Abe after the Japanese Prime Minister called him asking for any intelligence Australia may have.
– Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) will suspend clean-up works at the Fukushima nuclear plant after two fatal, unrelated accidents at the plant.
– A Tokyo publisher, Daisan Shokan, is set to publish a book on the Charlie Hebdo shootings which would include the satirical magazine’s controversial cartoons, including its depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
The wrap is back on Monday.
