<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/freed-japanese-journalist-says-syria-kidnap-ordeal-was-hell-173430">Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda</a> who was in captivity with the Syrian militants for a period of over three years has said that he was not allowed to move or make any noise during the confinement.

Calling the capitivity as physical and psychological hell, he said that the military would not let him move or make any noise even while sleeping.&nbsp;

Yasuda added that he was not allowed to bath or wash his clothes.

"Because I couldn't wash my hair, my head itched - but when I scratched, that made noise," he said on flight back to Japan.

"Breathing through my nose, cracking my knuckles, moving while I slept - everything was forbidden."

Kept at a space just 1.5 metres high and 1 metre wide, Yasuda was confined with the Syria military for over three years.

Jumpei Yasuda was kidnapped in Syria in 2015.

He arrived back in Japan on Thursday night.

The Japanese government has thanked Qatar and Turkey for their cooperation in freeing Yasuda, but has denied paying a ransom for his release.

Yasuda also had to face criticism on social media where the netizens targetted him saying that he was not even Japanese.

"He is disturbing society," wrote one Twitter user. "He's an anti-citizen," charged another.

Perhaps anticipating the criticism, Yasuda's only statement upon arrival, read to reporters by his wife Myu, was dominated by an apology.

"I apologise for causing such trouble and worry, but thanks to all of you, I was able to come home safely," he said.

A string of kidnappings of journalists in Syria at the height of the country's war exposed differences in how governments and public responded.

Some governments paid ransoms, while others refused, and while countries celebrated their journalists as heroes, others quietly criticised them for taking unnecessary risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda who was in captivity with the Syrian militants for a period of over three years has said that he was not allowed to move or make any noise during the confinement.

Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda who was in captivity with the Syrian militants for a period of over three years has said that he was not allowed to move or make any noise during the confinement. Calling the capitivity as physical and psychological hell, he said that the military would not let him move or make any noise even while sleeping. Yasuda added that he was not allowed to bath or wash his clothes. "Because I couldn't wash my hair, my head itched - but when I scratched, that made noise," he said on flight back to Japan. "Breathing through my nose, cracking my knuckles, moving while I slept - everything was forbidden." Kept at a space just 1.5 metres high and 1 metre wide, Yasuda was confined with the Syria military for over three years. Jumpei Yasuda was kidnapped in Syria in 2015. He arrived back in Japan on Thursday night. The Japanese government has thanked Qatar and Turkey for their cooperation in freeing Yasuda, but has denied paying a ransom for his release. Yasuda also had to face criticism on social media where the netizens targetted him saying that he was not even Japanese. "He is disturbing society," wrote one Twitter user. "He's an anti-citizen," charged another. Perhaps anticipating the criticism, Yasuda's only statement upon arrival, read to reporters by his wife Myu, was dominated by an apology. "I apologise for causing such trouble and worry, but thanks to all of you, I was able to come home safely," he said. A string of kidnappings of journalists in Syria at the height of the country's war exposed differences in how governments and public responded. Some governments paid ransoms, while others refused, and while countries celebrated their journalists as heroes, others quietly criticised them for taking unnecessary risks. (With inputs from agencies)

Forbidden from moving or making noise, Japanese journalist recounts Syrian torment

A Japanese journalist who was held in Syria for more than three years before being freed this week has described his lengthy captivity as "hell."

Jumpei Yasuda was freed earlier this week and taken to Turkey, where Japanese government officials confirmed his identity before announcing Wednesday that he was free.

He boarded a plane bound for Tokyo on Thursday, speaking briefly to journalists in an interview broadcast by Japanese media.

"It was hell," he said, sporting a long beard peppered with grey hair.

"Not only physically, but mentally as well. The thought each day that 'I'm not being released today either' left me losing control over myself bit by bit."

Yasuda, who is expected to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday evening, spoke calmly, but appeared slightly overwhelmed and tired, if otherwise healthy.

"For about 40 months, I have not spoken a word of Japanese. Words don't come to my mind easily," he said.

"I am happy that I am returning to Japan. At the same time, I have no idea what will happen now and how I should conduct myself. I am at loss and don't know what to think."

Yasuda was kidnapped in Syria in June 2015, and was reportedly initially a hostage of the group previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

But the group's current iteration, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, denied any involvement in his kidnapping in a statement earlier this week.

There was only sporadic news of Yasuda throughout his captivity, including a bizarre video that emerged in August showing him and a man identified as an Italian called Alessandro Sandrini.

Both men appealed for their release, dressed in orange jumpsuits, as masked, armed men stood behind them.

Yasuda gave his name as Omar and described himself as South Korean, but his wife Myu confirmed that it was her husband in the video.

The video did not identify who was holding the men or what their demands were. There has been no word on the fate of Sandrini since.

Yasuda told journalists he believed he was held for all of his captivity in Idlib, a province in northwestern Syria that is one of the last parts of the country still held in part by rebels and jihadists.

The details of how Yasuda was freed have remained murky, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, saying a ransom was paid.

But Japan's government has denied that.

In 2015, militants from the Islamic State group beheaded Japanese war correspondent Kenji Goto and his friend Haruna Yukawa in Syria.

The Japanese government was criticised for what detractors saw as its flat-footed response to the crisis at the time, including apparently missed opportunities to free both men.

But other Japanese hostages who have been freed and made it home safely have also faced heavy public criticism for what some have deemed reckless behaviour.

A Japanese journalist who was held in Syria for more than three years before being freed this week has described his lengthy captivity as "hell." Jumpei Yasuda was freed earlier this week and taken to Turkey, where Japanese government officials confirmed his identity before announcing Wednesday that he was free.

A Japanese journalist who was held in Syria for more than three years before being freed this week has described his lengthy captivity as "hell." Jumpei Yasuda was freed earlier this week and taken to Turkey, where Japanese government officials confirmed his identity before announcing Wednesday that he was free. He boarded a plane bound for Tokyo on Thursday, speaking briefly to journalists in an interview broadcast by Japanese media. "It was hell," he said, sporting a long beard peppered with grey hair. "Not only physically, but mentally as well. The thought each day that 'I'm not being released today either' left me losing control over myself bit by bit." Yasuda, who is expected to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday evening, spoke calmly, but appeared slightly overwhelmed and tired, if otherwise healthy. "For about 40 months, I have not spoken a word of Japanese. Words don't come to my mind easily," he said. "I am happy that I am returning to Japan. At the same time, I have no idea what will happen now and how I should conduct myself. I am at loss and don't know what to think." Yasuda was kidnapped in Syria in June 2015, and was reportedly initially a hostage of the group previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate. But the group's current iteration, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, denied any involvement in his kidnapping in a statement earlier this week. There was only sporadic news of Yasuda throughout his captivity, including a bizarre video that emerged in August showing him and a man identified as an Italian called Alessandro Sandrini. Both men appealed for their release, dressed in orange jumpsuits, as masked, armed men stood behind them. Yasuda gave his name as Omar and described himself as South Korean, but his wife Myu confirmed that it was her husband in the video. The video did not identify who was holding the men or what their demands were. There has been no word on the fate of Sandrini since. Yasuda told journalists he believed he was held for all of his captivity in Idlib, a province in northwestern Syria that is one of the last parts of the country still held in part by rebels and jihadists. The details of how Yasuda was freed have remained murky, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, saying a ransom was paid. But Japan's government has denied that. In 2015, militants from the Islamic State group beheaded Japanese war correspondent Kenji Goto and his friend Haruna Yukawa in Syria. The Japanese government was criticised for what detractors saw as its flat-footed response to the crisis at the time, including apparently missed opportunities to free both men. But other Japanese hostages who have been freed and made it home safely have also faced heavy public criticism for what some have deemed reckless behaviour.

Freed Japanese journalist says Syria kidnap ordeal was 'hell'

The Japanese government said today that&nbsp;it was doing all it could to secure the release of a Japanese journalist being held hostage by an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, after an apparent photograph of the man was posted on the Internet.

The photograph, apparently uploaded to the Internet late on Sunday, showed a bearded man dressed in orange holding a hand-written sign in Japanese.

&quot;Please help me. This is my last chance,&quot; said the sign, written in shaky characters and signed &quot;Jumpei Yasuda.&quot;

Yasuda&#39;s plight came to attention in March, when a video surfaced showing him reading a message to his country and his family. Japanese media said he was capture by a group called Nusra Front after entering Syria from Turkey last June.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the government was analysing the new photo and believed it was Yasuda, while Chief Cabinet Spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the government was doing what it could.

&quot;Since preserving the safety of Japanese citizens is our most important duty, we are making use of a broad net of information and doing everything we can to respond,&quot; Suga told a news conference.

Asked if this meant contacting the Nusra Front, Suga said &quot;that sort of thing was included&quot; but declined to give further details.

Early in 2015, the Islamic State militant group beheaded two Japanese nationals - a self-styled security consultant and a veteran war reporter. The gruesome executions captured the attention of Japan but the government at that time had said that&nbsp;it would not negotiate with the militants for their release.

Yasuda, a freelance journalist since 2003, was held in Baghdad in 2004 and drew criticism for drawing the Japanese government into negotiations for his release.

In December, media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders retracted and apologized for a report it had issued that said Yasuda had been threatened with execution in Syria. The government said at the time it was seeking information.

Jumpei Yasuda, a freelance journalist since 2003 has been held captive in Baghdad since 2004. He had earlier pleaded for help by reading a message to his family in a video. The Japanese government is saying it is doing its best to get the victim released.

The Japanese government said today that it was doing all it could to secure the release of a Japanese journalist being held hostage by an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, after an apparent photograph of the man was posted on the Internet. The photograph, apparently uploaded to the Internet late on Sunday, showed a bearded man dressed in orange holding a hand-written sign in Japanese. "Please help me. This is my last chance," said the sign, written in shaky characters and signed "Jumpei Yasuda." Yasuda's plight came to attention in March, when a video surfaced showing him reading a message to his country and his family. Japanese media said he was capture by a group called Nusra Front after entering Syria from Turkey last June. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the government was analysing the new photo and believed it was Yasuda, while Chief Cabinet Spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the government was doing what it could. "Since preserving the safety of Japanese citizens is our most important duty, we are making use of a broad net of information and doing everything we can to respond," Suga told a news conference. Asked if this meant contacting the Nusra Front, Suga said "that sort of thing was included" but declined to give further details. Early in 2015, the Islamic State militant group beheaded two Japanese nationals - a self-styled security consultant and a veteran war reporter. The gruesome executions captured the attention of Japan but the government at that time had said that it would not negotiate with the militants for their release. Yasuda, a freelance journalist since 2003, was held in Baghdad in 2004 and drew criticism for drawing the Japanese government into negotiations for his release. In December, media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders retracted and apologized for a report it had issued that said Yasuda had been threatened with execution in Syria. The government said at the time it was seeking information.

New photo of Japanese hostage in Syria appears, message reads "Please Help"

jumpei-yasuda

Jumpei Yasuda, News on Jumpei Yasuda, stories on Jumpei Yasuda, articles on Jumpei Yasuda, Jumpei Yasuda stories at Wion, Jumpei Yasuda news, Jumpei Yasuda latest news

jumpei yasuda

Forbidden from moving or making noise, Japanese journalist recounts Syrian torment

Freed Japanese journalist says Syria kidnap ordeal was 'hell'

New photo of Japanese hostage in Syria appears, message reads "Please Help"