The top or most interesting stories from Japan for January 28
– News wires in Japan went into full gear on Wednesday when it was announced Deputy Foreign Minister, Yasuhide Nakayama would be doing a press conference from Jordan. However, when the time came, Nakayama had “no new information” but stated Japan couldn’t confirm if Goto was alive.
However shortly afterwards, it was reported the Jordanian government had signalled a willingness to swap death-row inmate Sajida al-Rishawi for their captured Air Force pilot, Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh. They did not mention Goto.
Since then, a new video message has been released with Goto’s voice (still no video since the original ransom video) saying the Jordanians should have Al-Rishawi ready to swap with Goto by sunset or Al-Kaseasbeh will be executed. The Japanese government is taking sunset to mean 11:30pm / 12:00am Japan time.
Meanwhile, The New York Times is asking why does ISIS suddenly care about Al-Rishawi? A militant who has mostly been forgotten after her failed 2005 suicide bombing attempt. (The piece is also a good wrap on the hostage crisis so far.)
– Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the latest demand by ISIS but has said the Japanese government will continue to work for Goto’s release.
– A vigil for ISIS-hostage Kenji Goto was held outside Japan’s Diet on Wednesday night organised by a colleague of Goto.
– Ben Dooley from The Japan Times writes that China is paying closing attention to Japan’s handling of the hostage crisis, with Chinese papers claiming that Prime Minister Abe may use the crisis as an excuse to ease Japanese constitutional law on self-defence.
– Japan is facing two problems, labor shortage caused by depopulation and a hue amount of elderly citizens, so the government is opening up nursing care to the intern training program to allow more foreign workers to fill the gaps.
Also in aged care, the Japanese government will be investing more money into dementia funding.
