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Japan mourns Goto as caring and courageous reporter

42 Comments
By YURI KAGEYAMA

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42 Comments
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Tradegy. What are the voices and thoughts of ordinary people regarding the numbers of Muslims studying in Japan? How about in Oita around Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University? What about in Fukuoka near the mosque? And in other parts of Japan? Is there any backlash against Muslims in Japan? Worth some news coverage.

-10 ( +6 / -16 )

RIP Goto-san. Very sad. I will say a prayer for you and your family tonight.

Despite efforts by Muslims in Japan and the mosques to distance themselves from Islamic extremists like ISIS, there will be blowback in Tokyo against them due to this incident. The right wing nutters and folks with the black trucks and loudspeaker will strike out against somebody. I will be surprised if no incidents occur.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

All people are brothers and sisters. It is so pointless to kill.

Hear hear.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

They should have paid the ransom. This is about human life, and that comes first and foremost. We had to save his life. I want our country to first value human life. The fight against terrorism comes second,” said a 51-year-old volunteer, who only gave his first name, Masahiko, for fear of a backlash from a society that doesn’t favor outspoken people.

The results would have sadly been the same. This just shows how ignorant some Japanese are, and Masahiko, don't worry about the "outspoken" part, that's BS, just look at your leader.

“It could have happened to anyone. I am terrified. Maybe an attack could happen even here,

Could have? Well the murder yes, and it's good to see you get your head out of the sand. By IS? Highly doubtful.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Sad news, and I'm also sad to say I'm not entirely surprised. I don't think there's anything the government could have done, and even if they (and they may have) tried to pay ransoms or promised Jordan some things to get the prisoner released or a swap, IS would probably have killed Goto anyway. As for the comments, I think they are a pretty good reflection of the sadness felt today in the nation and when Yukawa died, but I think to an extent they also reflect, as Yubaru said, I kind of ignorance about the situation.

"“It could have happened to anyone. I am terrified."

How could it have happened to anyone? Yukawa and Goto both went to a place where they both knew this kind of thing happens and could happen to them. I don't see how that applies to 'anyone'.

"Maybe an attack could happen even here,”

It's possible now with the stance the government has taken in providing aid to nations who attack IS and the desire to get involved in the war on terror. Whether you agree that either or both are right or wrong, you can't deny that it puts the sites on Japan. And rightfully there will be a response to this news from the Japanese government towards IS, and that will probably also increase the threat to Japanese and the nation. You can help by not risking your own life and endanger the nation by willingly going to such places.

"They should have paid the randsom..."

There is no guarantee that if they paid the ransom, which I don't believe IS needs but was a number chosen as a point because it was that that Abe chose to give to countries to support attacks on them, but there IS the guarantee that it would have funded further terrorism by IS and also made Japan look week and easily manipulated when the government already swore not to give in to their demands. Yes, "people's lives come first", and that includes having to think seriously about what it means to give in to terrorists and allow them to commit further acts of murder and violence.

“I had been praying for his release, but God did not hear my prayers,”

That's because we are not dealing with gods, we are dealing with monsters here on earth.

“All people are brothers and sisters. It is so pointless to kill.”

Amen to that, though.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

All people are brothers and sisters. It is so pointless to kill.”

I don't know, it sure would make a huge point to kill off the IS, but then someone else would take their place.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This terrible news definitely broke my heart today.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I'm really sorry to hear this news, but I'm not surprised.

ISIS looks down on anyone who doesn't follow their own strict version of Islam. For this reason, the Japanese people have always been vulnerable. After all, ISIS took both Japanese hostages before Abe pledged any aid to help people in the Middle East.

RIP all those who have been murdered by ISIS.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

RIP Mr. Kenji Goto, and I do hope your death does not go down in vain. May all of Japan and all of the world realize that these terrorists, are nothing but COWARDS, really tough to capture unarmed Japanese etc. in the middle war torn, messed up countries. I am proud Japan did not pay one single yen to these cowardly terrorists!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Mustafa DaifFEB. 01, 2015 - 02:38PM JST IS came from Saudi Arabia. They arose in Syria fighting Al Assad regime and they were supported by USA, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Now they are out of control. There is a solution. Condemnation by the UN against those who supported IS. Turkey is till supporting IS. The UN must do something against Turkey.

The CIA built terrorist camps in Libya, Afghanistan and I want to say Pakistan allowed these camps at one time also. Then you had the mosques in the US/UK and many others recruiting for these camps. So it took a long time to build up to this point plus the media saturation on this issue where you even had people from Japan wanting to join Al-Queda/ISIS/ISIL,Al-CIAeda etc.

So time + money is needed and I am surprised that the physical gold holders of Turkey allowed their Gov and Financial institutions to get away with this when they could have easily collapsed the Gov and financial system of Turkey within days to weeks.

==> John McCain and the Libs/Globalists finally have a terrorist organization that the media can use to promote higher military sales and a police state (taking away of personal rights to promote "safety"). The people of Turkey have accepted this, but will the people of Japan fall to it also.

The funnier thing is people that actually believe the US Military/Nato could not wipe out this group within days. We do have the Fema re-education camps to house the whole group securely.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Someting I had never heard before just said on NHK. Goto was a Christian. I guess that gives them all the more reason to kill him. I would guess they never really intended to release him.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The scum of this earth, the incarnation of satan in this universe have showed again of what they are capable of. Their sick and impaired brains cannot produce anything beyond destruction, murder, useless killing. What they are doing now is creating martyrs on 'the other side'. The cowards who are doing this are not putting themselves in harm's way. They only can viciously execute defenseless unarmed civilians. These outcasts cannot even be termed as fighters. I feel so sorry for Kenji Goto and those who leaves behind.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Abe's big mouth brought this on

I don't think you can blame Abe for this. ISIS are an evil organisation and Japan is right to try to help countries that suffer from their activities.

You're also naive for thinking that terrorists take hostage for the hell of it. They take and hold them to either:

a) try to get something useful and/or;

b) spread terror.

Quite possibly they reacted to Abe's slightly more robust position, but because they considered a relatively passive country like Japan stepping up a threat to them. It is possible for Japan to go hide in a cave somewhere and hope other countries will solve the world's problems, but really it should be an active contributor in situations like these. Don't pretend that ISIS are freedom fighters, they want to put the whole world under sharia law - Japan included.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

ISIS scum. They claim to be so brave and righteous, yet they prey on the helpless, all while hiding cowardly behind masks and lurking in the shadows, like some common cockroach. I take that back. Putting them in the same league as insects is an insult to insects. Wish the coalition armies would napalm them to hell where they belong. RIP to all victims of the Satanic Caliphate of Cowardice, ISIS.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Condolences to Mr. Goto's family and to Japan. Evil exists in this world and ISIS embodies it. Japan should not back away from its role as a responsible opponent of terrorism and suffering as a result. The only response to this horrible act should be to double down on its humanitarian aid to the victims of ISIS. Do not flinch.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The legacy and legend of Kenji Goto will live beyond the despicable cowards who call themselves the Islamic State. They are a disgrace to humanity and Islam. To think they could be reasoned with for his release was just playing their 'game': to confuse, divide and terrorize. Don't blame Abe - IS have their own agenda regardless. They will fail. They will disappear and probably also die. Kenji Goto was the antithesis of these thugs. Caring, dedicated and peace-loving. He will live on in hearts and I think more concrete form in the future.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I feel so sorry for Kenji Goto and those who leaves behind.

Should be, you understand, "I feel so sorry for Kenji Goto and those he leaves behind".

Don't pretend that ISIS are freedom fighters,

Freedom fighters is a terrible misnomer. Freedom is not in the equation, nor is fighters. It's about suppressing, limiting, abolishing freedom. The freedom to choose one's religion, speech, education, politics. It's about armed robotic androids trying to change the world. It's about those who derive sickening pleasure from threatening and killing defenseless humans for purposes they themselves lack the facility to comprehend.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's my OPINION that what Kenji did was highly selfish. He had two daughters and I feel he had a bigger responsibility to protect them and be there in their lives than go to Syria and try to help a friend. Now his daughters have no father, and for what? He went willingly and right when his child was born? I have a newborn and you couldn't pay me enough to leave her side, and certainly if not the end result of me leaving my newborn had a high chance in resulting in me being killed by terrorists! I am saddened by what happened, sure, but I also think what he did wasn't right on a certain level.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I am Kenji and Charlie...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Just came back from my local sake shop and the owner and I spoke a bit.Surprisingly, he agreed with me that Abe's big mouth brought this on.

I very much doubt that. Possibly it accelerated the situation but Islamic State would have done this sooner or later no matter what Abe said or did. You have to remember that they are looking for publicity in the worst possible way, and that these two Japanese hostages are not the first to suffer at their hands.

The two had been captured but were not under any immediate threat of murder until the grandstanding he did overseas.

Like I said, this has little to do with Abe's actions beyond a possible timing. Generally, all they want is attention for their struggle against their immediate opposition within Islam.

Tis very sad because Mr Goto's good works in the region were well documented and he meant well. Unfortunately those zealots used the opportunity to bring Japan into the strife over there, when the people were far from interested in being involved.

And, unfortunately, this is liable to happen again. We've suffered the same sort of fate in the UK, so the Japanese are far from being alone in that and I suspect that as long as they keep getting the publicity, the number of countries affected by this tactic will only grow.

Abe's only real saving grace is that the two went on their own volition enabling their capture.And yes a good few posters, for some reason,want to absolve Abe from any blame.I suppose because he didn't do the dastardly deeds.He didn't shoot but he provided the bullets, so to speak.

That's a bit harsh. I don't have a lot of time for Abe but I'm not going to condemn him for something like this. I'd more likely say that this sad, horrific event has only brought those of us that stand against extremist groups such as IS together, possibly the only positive note in this whole saga.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It's my OPINION that what Kenji did was highly selfish. He had two daughters and I feel he had a bigger responsibility to protect them and be there in their lives than go to Syria and try to help a friend.

I somewhat agree with your sentiments, in that he had a responsibility to his family that he did not live up to, and his children will grow up fatherless as a result.

But that said, you can hardly call him selfish, rather not going would have been beneficial to himself, and going was not beneficial to himself. He was going into danger in order to help another - by definition this cannot be considered selfish. Irresponsible maybe, but not selfish.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A truly foul and despicable organisation that have caused dread, fear and sadness to so many people around the world.

What is their goal? To be recognised as an "Islamic State".

They don't represent the vast majority of decent Muslims around the world and their barbaric behaviour doesn't merit them being recognised as a state therefore from no on perhaps we should refer to them by the derogatory term they hate... Daesh.

I know this will not help anyone who has been touched by their brutal ways but anything they hate, I like.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Yubara san, with all due respect and not to sound insulting but what world do you live in? It has been proven in many cases, paying the ransom leads to more ransoms. This act alone would make all japanese worldwide a target. Why? Because it let the terrorist know they have a guarantee ransom. It was in no way Abe fault but if you need to point the finger then point it at the people responsible and then yourself for living in a bubble. What Kenji Goto did was not selfish, just naive. His heart was in the right place but he failed to realized being an Angel surrounded by Devils is just suicide.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@roten, I remember seeing blck robe wearing women with children and their seemingly husbands with them joining the throngs of people who watched the open house in Gifu 2 yrs ago. Quite extraordianry looking as they were not just a handfull of them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I said it from the start, the fanatics never meant what they claimed. Those fanatics would have killed Goto and Haruna no matter if Japan had a paid a red yen.

But, sadly, the left continues to believe that the world can negotiate with ISIS or any other terrorist group. They actually think that if we sit down with them and feel their pains that they will stop their mass murders!

But, as usual the Left has been fooled into a lie. ISIS and groups like ISIS can not be dealt with as if they were a trade union. ISIS is a terrorist organization funded by very rich religious fanatics. The only way to deal with it is to deal with the way former Islamic leaders dealt with their kind in the past.

Destroy them! Tear down their funding and bring the fear of hell upon them.

Kill them and anyone associated with them.

Death hate and absolute destruction is the only way to deal with these fanatics!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Goto's killing is sad news indeed. And yet it makes me feel that Haruna Yukawa's killing was somehow more barbaric. Yukawa didn't get much sympathy. He was a sad case, a messed up guy with a history of screw ups behind him. Essentially an idiot. And so do we shrug our shoulders and say "no great loss", or does he deserve that bit more concern and help than others? Kenji Goto apparently thought he deserved help, and had the guts to do something about it. A good person indeed.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The right wing nutters and folks with the black trucks and loudspeaker will strike out against somebody. I will be surprised if no incidents occur.

Wrong country. Yes, the black trucks will shout slogans and right wingers will speak out but that is about it. I highly doubt a Muslim person will be physically attacked or embassy thrown rocks at. If you were talking about Japan's Asian neighbors, Australia, Europe or even the U.S., I'd agree.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I managed to put some of the shock from hearing of this horrible loss behind me as I watched the Australian Open tennis final. I had been thinking of Kenji Goto's loss all day. However, I once again mourn the event of today as I read all of the comments written above mine. It was a very sunny, chilly and windy day where I live, and it is not that cold wind that has numbed me. Totally lost for words . . .

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Terrible loss of what seemed to be an admirable man.

Still, the length at which the media here is playing this bothers me. It's not like violence linked to Islamic extremism began with Goto's murder, though the media would have one think otherwise; nor is it that Japan has any real options to deal with it, though the media is screaming for it. In fact, its effect on Japan is zilch. Despite the wall-to-wall coverage, I bet my wife (who, for some reason, is alarmed by this) that nobody will remember it by months' end.

I suppose two reasons underlie this morbid fascination: one, a typical justification of the barbarity and inscrutability of foreign cultures; and the second a perverted enjoyment of being somehow shared in the international spotlight.

RIP Goto. Let's not go there again.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I know Abe didn't kill the victim directly, but he was the straw that broke the camel's back with his boasting of 200 million and goading the terrorists. An absolute lack of discretion and diplomacy, all just to make himself look like one of the big boys. I don't know how he can look at himself in the mirror.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

****Mourn and pray but then the Japanese people must respond with more than humanitarian aid. These heinous crimes are an act of war against this empire. A equal and deliberate action is required and for those that say pay ransom, ISIS will be knocking at their doors.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Gomeifuku wo inorimasu, Goto-san. I hope your family and children continue to live as you did - with compassion and conviction. Hold it together, Japan, for Kenji's sake if nothing else. He wouldn't want his lifetime's work of compassion to be forgotten, nor his death to be the linchpin in turning the tide of public opinion against Muslims in Japan. For Kenji's sake, we have to stick together - learning even more about another's cultures, and maintaining the culture peace that has been Japan's touchstone for ages. To have us become a paranoid, militaristic, society at the fault of these brutes would be heartbreaking. They will not defeat us, and they will not defeat the Japanese spirit.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Very sad. Many people owe you the voice you gave them Goto sama, you did much more to help than the vast majority even think to. RIP. Yet, this happens up to and over 80 times a year in Saudi Arabia, civilians beheaded, on the street... Lalia Bint Abdul Muttablib Basim from Myanmar last month for example... by the 'government' and that's a regime we embrace.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As I said previously, this is just a beginning. IS stated, "because of yours (Abe's) reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this man will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage where your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin." Read the words carefully. It said, "your people": that can be you, your friend, your brother or sister-anyone of you, Japanese. American newspapers never posted this Japanese problem (capturing and beheading of the Japanese journalists) on its front page. For America, Japan's and Japanese problems are not important although Japan has provided a huge amount of money to support America's politics. Now Japan is in a bottomless mud pit. America can be careless about the Japanese problem because, for them, there are many other important things to worry about. When Japan provides money to support America (or other European nations), it does not matter whether the money is for peach or for war. For IS group, it is money that is used against them.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

IS are just terrorists. They don't speak for all muslims and it should be remembered that IS have killed thousands of muslims since their incarnation. The number of murdered muslims at the hands of IS far outnumbers non-muslims. They are just terrorists. The IRA in Northern Ireland didn't represent all Catholics. Eta doesn't represent all those living in the Basque region of Spain. IS doesn't represent all muslims.

Last year IS murdered Alan Henning, a British aid worker who was devoted to helping muslims. Even the more fundamentalist Imams in the UK spoke out to the effect that Henning was not part of any 'justifiable' war and should be released. But IS killed him anyway.

Japan should not believe that Abe's pledge to give aid money to help the displaced was the cause of ISIS' actions. Haruna Yukawa, the first to be murdered, was captured way back in August, a good four to five months before Abe's aid money pledge.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I hope that so called Jihadi John just happens to end up being blown up by a nice, shiny DRONE MISSILE!! RIP KENJI GOTO san!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Stated it in another thread, and I'll state it again here.........

This is yet another tragedy, and not just for Japan or the West or for 1st world nations, but for EVERYBODY. These ISIS/ISIL terrorists are naught but cowards, attacking, kidnapping, and beheading aid workers, journalists, and other civilians. My heart breaks for Japan at having had to experience two of their citizens being publicly beheaded by these terrorists and my heart breaks for the families of the two men who were murdered like this. Ms Ishido, his mother, and his wife, Ms. Rinko Jogo, are in my prayers, as are the rest of Mr. Goto's family and friends, as well as the other Japanese man's families and friends. Same for Mr. Haruna Yukawa's family and friends and loved ones.

There is no negotiation with these ISIS/ISIL thugs. None. What. So. Ever. What someone else stated in this story is true: these two were basically dead men the minute they were captured and shown on video. There are no deals with terrorists. Period. There's really only one way to deal with them, but so long as we have leadership in certain countries who are "kind" and "compassionate" to terrorist states, wanting to "sit down and talk": with them, these ISIS/ISIL thugs and other groups like them will not only continue to do their thing, but will also grow, thrive, and flourish.

GOD rest the soul of Keji Goto, and give peace and comfort in his family's time of sorrow.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan mourns Goto as caring and courageous reporter

By all means mourn him, but also ask who accelerated his death?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Readers, please stop using these threads to post anti-Abe rants. Also, please note that the Foreign Ministry asked Goto three times not to go to Syria and he refused to heed their advice each time. Focus your comments on what is in the story.

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