A new image believed to be that of freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda, who went missing in Syria last year, surfaced Sunday night, depicting a bearded man holding a sign in Japanese saying "Please help. This is the last chance."

The image was sent to multiple media outlets by a Syrian man claiming to be a mediator for the group that is believed to be holding the 42-year-old.

The Syrian asserts that Yasuda is being held by the Nusra Front, an al-Qaida-linked militant group in Syria, and that the photo was taken by the group on Saturday.