Now playing Next Japan Japan outrage at ISIL claims it has executed hostage Haruna Yukawa Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed anger after ISIL claimed it had executed hostage Haruna Yukawa. The militant group issued a video 24/01/2015
Now playing Next Sport Ski jumping: Prevc soars to morale-boosting Sapporo win Slovenia’s Peter Prevc won his first World Cup ski jump event of the season and first in just under a year on Saturday. 24/01/2015
Now playing Next Japan No word on Japanese hostages after ISIL deadline passes Kenji Goto, a war correspondent, went to Syria three months ago. His fellow countryman Haruna Yukawa was taken hostage in August. 24/01/2015
Now playing Next Japan ISIL hostage Kenji Goto's mother begs for his release The distraught mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, held captive by the militant group calling itself Islamic State (ISIL)along with another 23/01/2015
Now playing Next Iraq ISIL demands $200m for release of two Japanese captives The Islamic State armed group which issued a video online on Tuesday purporting to show two Japanese hostages. 20/01/2015
Now playing Next Japan 20 years on, Kobe in Japan remembers its earthquake victims Ceremonies are being held to remember the almost 6,500 people who were killed. 17/01/2015
Now playing Next explore A winter's tale in the Land of the Rising Sun Just two hours from Tokyo lie Japanese Alps, offering the promise of an exotic ski adventure. Powder snow, stunning slopes and monkeys in hot springs 15/01/2015
Now playing Next Japan Thousands of Japanese workers pray for good luck at Tokyo's Kanda Myojin shrine Two hundred thousand Japanese workers queued in line for well over an hour to get into this Tokyo shrine that's thousands of years old. Praying here is said to bring good luck. It's become an annual 05/01/2015
Now playing Next India India arrests five men suspected of gang rape of Japanese tourist Five men have been arrested in India in connection with the kidnap and gang rape of a Japanese woman. The assaults took place over one month, before 03/01/2015
Now playing Next world news World cities greet 2015 with spectacular fireworks displays Fireworks and music fill the night skies as cities from Sydney to London compete to put on the best display to welcome in the New Year 01/01/2015
Now playing Next China Asia celebrates in style the start of 2015 Several countries across Asia welcomed in 2015 with fanfare and high spirits, but the celebrations were toned down in many parts in deference to 31/12/2014
Now playing Next Japan Japan's re-elected PM vows to push ahead with reforms Re-elected by parliament, Japan’s Prime Minister is vowing to push ahead with controversial economic reforms. Shinzo Abe has appeared before the 24/12/2014
Now playing Next Sport Aguirre to remain Japan coach despite match-fixing charges The Japanese Football Association (JFA) on Thursday confirmed national coach Javier Aguirre will remain in his role despite facing charges of 18/12/2014
Now playing Next Japan Big in Japan, but Shinzo Abe's political win gets flat reception from electorate and experts alike Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may look to be on course to become a rare long-lasting leader, and has another huge election win under his belt 15/12/2014
Now playing Next Japan Abe on course for election win but record low turnout weakens his mandate It appears that, politically at least, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has scored a great victory in the snap election he called, where exit polls 14/12/2014
Now playing Next Japan Japanese voters go to polls with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe likely to hold onto power Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks set to be re-elected in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Opinion polls show he is on course for a huge 14/12/2014
Now playing Next Sport Judo Grand Slam Tokyo: Final golds of 2014 Five gold medals were up for grabs on the third and final day of the Judo Grand Slam in Tokyo – the final IJF tournament of the year. Reigning 07/12/2014