Japan mentioned on Friday (March 6, 2026) {that a} second Japanese nationwide was being held in Iran, calling for his or her rapid launch.
Japan had beforehand mentioned that one Japanese citizen was arrested on January 20, 2026, with experiences saying he was the Tehran bureau chief of public broadcaster NHK.
The id of the second Japanese particular person held and the date in addition to different particulars of the arrest are unclear.
Information of the extra detention comes after america and Israel started a sweeping army marketing campaign towards Iran that has resulted in Tehran firing retaliatory strikes across the area.
“The federal government will proceed to strongly press for an early launch and, whereas staying involved with the people, their households and all events involved, will present each doable type of help,” International Minister Toshimitsu Motegi mentioned, Kyodo Information reported.
A spokeswoman for the Japanese International Ministry informed AFP — with out naming both particular person — that embassy workers have been involved with the 2 folks and to “affirm their security”.
In response to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Radio Farda and the Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ), a type of arrested is the Tehran bureau chief of Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Shinnosuke Kawashima.
Kawashima was arrested on January 20 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the CPJ mentioned on February 26, citing a supply who spoke on situation of anonymity for concern of retaliation.
The CPJ and Radio Free Europe each reported that Kawashima was transferred on February 23 to Evin Jail, the place political prisoners are often incarcerated.
The CPJ’s supply additionally mentioned that NHK‘s longtime videographer Mehdi Mohammedi’s passport was confiscated, alongside together with his private units, together with his telephone, laptop computer, and digicam.
“One other NHK workers member — whose id CPJ mentioned it was withholding for security causes —fled Iran in early February after being summoned a number of instances,” CPJ mentioned in an announcement.
“The arrest of Shinnosuke Kawashima and the intimidation of his colleagues displays a deliberate effort by Iranian authorities to silence impartial reporting,” mentioned CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah.
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The reported arrest adopted a wave of main protests in Iran in December and January met by a violent authorities crackdown that rights teams mentioned left hundreds of individuals useless.
This was earlier than america and Israeli militaries started “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28 and killed supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Danger stage
Japan on Thursday (March 5, 2026) raised its threat stage to the second-highest stage — “Keep away from all journey” — for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (Jap Province), Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
It mentioned it could transport Japanese nationals in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE who want to take action by land to Riyadh and Muscat to take business flights.
However with tickets from Riyadh and Oman tough to get, Japan’s authorities can even organize constitution flights to Tokyo from there.
Tokyo and Tehran have traditionally had comparatively pleasant relations, with former premier Shinzo Abe visiting Iran in 2019 and then-President Hassan Rouhani coming to Japan the identical 12 months.
“As a detailed U.S. ally, but additionally a robust supporter of the rules-based worldwide order, the battle has put Japan in a tough place,” analysts say.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned on Tuesday that she would maintain “candid” discussions on the battle with U.S. President Donald Trump at their talks in Washington on March 19.
The world’s fourth-largest economic system is the fifth largest importer of oil, with round 70% coming by means of the Strait of Hormuz which Iran has successfully closed.
Printed – March 06, 2026 12:23 pm IST