The apparent killing of 47-year-old Kenji Goto – the second beheading of a Japanese hostage in a week – was announced in a video released online that made no mention of a Jordanian pilot, also being held by IS, whom the jihadist group has threatened to kill.
Goto, a respected freelance journalist, is seen in an orange outfit – similar to those worn by Guantanamo Bay inmates – kneeling next to a standing masked man who speaks with a British accent and blames the Japanese government for his “slaughter”.
The man, dressed entirely in black with his face covered, appears to be the same IS militant who has featured in the group’s previous execution videos.
The executioner addresses Abe, saying the murder was the result of “reckless” decisions by the Japanese government and would mark the beginning of “the nightmare for Japan”.
The brief video ends with the image of a body dressed in orange with a decapitated head on top of it.
Abe vowed to “never forgive terrorists” after news of the video broke early this morning (February 1) in Japan.
“I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists,” the premier, who appeared on the verge of tears, told reporters.
“We will cooperate with the international community to make them atone for their crimes.”
Goto’s sobbing mother, Junko Ishido, said “I can’t find the words to describe how I feel about my son’s very sad death.”
Goto’s brother Junichi Goto said he had been holding out hope, “But that’s not possible anymore,” he was quoted as saying by public broadcaster NHK.
US President Barack Obama led international condemnation of the “heinous murder”.
“Through his reporting, Mr Goto courageously sought to convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world,” Obama said.
A spokesman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon also condemned the “barbaric murder”, and said the death “underscores the violence that so many have been subjected to in Iraq and Syria”.
Tokyo and Washington said they were working to confirm the video’s authenticity.
“After an extensive review, we believe it’s highly probable” it is real, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said in response to a reporter’s question.
British Prime Minister David Cameron denounced the apparent killing as “a further reminder that ISIL (IS) is the embodiment of evil, with no regard for human life.”
French President Francois Hollande also condemned the “brutal murder”.
The apparent execution came after Japan said negotiations to win Goto’s release in a prisoner exchange had stalled.
IS had vowed to kill Goto and Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh unless Amman handed over an Iraqi female jihadist.
Yesterday morning Abe renewed orders for officials to maintain close cooperation with Jordan in a bid to secure Goto’s release.
“The government has been working with the utmost efforts on the issue – I deeply regret that this is the result,” Abe told reporters today.
But “Japan will never yield to terrorism... [and] is firmly resolved to fulfil its responsibility in the international community’s fight against terrorism”.
Last week IS claimed responsibility for the beheading of another Japanese man it had been holding, contractor Haruna Yukawa, after the expiration of a 72-hour deadline during which the jihadists had demanded Tokyo pay a US$200 million (B6 billion) ransom.
Jordan has demanded evidence that its pilot, who crashed in Syria on December 24, was still alive before freeing would-be suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, who is on death row.
The latest video made no mention of Kassasbeh’s fate.