Japan reporter freed from captivity in Syria returns home
TOKYO — A Japanese journalist returned to Tokyo on Thursday after being freed from more than three years of captivity in Syria, and was greeted at the airport with hugs from his wife and his favourite handmade rice balls from his mother.
Jumpei Yasuda was released in Syria on Tuesday and taken to neighbouring Turkey.
Yasuda, wearing a black T-shirt, was escorted from his plane at Tokyo’s airport by Japanese officials and ushered into a black van. He left without talking to a large group of reporters who had waited for his arrival.
He briefly met his wife and parents and enjoyed his mother’s handmade rice balls — his first meal after returning to Japan.