The government officially confirmed Wednesday that a man believed to be Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda, who was captured by an armed group in Syria three years ago and is now in Turkey, is indeed the kidnapped freelance reporter.
Foreign Minister Taro Kono made the announcement, telling reporters that Yasuda is in good health.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga had told a news conference late Tuesday night that the man was almost certainly Yasuda.