TOKYO — Japan reacted with sorrow and outrage on Sunday to the posting by the Islamic State of a video purporting to show the grisly killing of the journalist Kenji Goto, bringing an end to a hostage standoff that has horrified this usually tranquil nation.
Gripped by anger and disbelief, Japan has so far shown support for the strong line taken by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who did not meet the hostage takers’ initial demands on Jan. 20 for a $200 million ransom, pledging not to yield to terrorism. Mr. Abe strongly condemned the murder claim made in the video released early Sunday, saying Japan “will cooperate with the international community and make the terrorists pay the price.”
“I’m outraged by the despicable terrorist act, and I will never forgive the terrorists,” Mr. Abe told reporters on Sunday at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo.
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There has already been some criticism in Japan that Mr. Abe provoked the crisis by offering nonmilitary aid to countries battling the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, but Mr. Abe vowed not to back away from his pledges.
“We will increase our humanitarian aid, including food and medical support,” he said Sunday. “Japan will resolutely fulfill its responsibility to the international community in the fight against terrorism.”
Martin Fackler reported from Tokyo and Rod Nordland from Amman, Jordan. Mohammad Ghannam contributed reporting from Beirut, Lebanon.
