hello and welcome to nhk "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. there has been no word from purported islamic state militants who are holding two japanese hostages. they imposed a ransom deadline which has now expired but japanese government officials say they continue to work to secure the safe release of the men. a masked jihadist demanded $200 million from the japanese government and threatened to kill kenji goto and haruna yukawa unless the ransom was paid within 72 hours. the deadline is believed to have passed at around 3:00 p.m. on friday japan time.

japan's chief cabinet secretary says the extremist group has made no contact with his government. >> translator: this matter remains tense. we are still doing all we can to secure the release of the captives. we are using every available channel to seek cooperation. >> an adviser to the prime minister said the government is trying to get information from multiple sources. >> translator: we have received information indirectly, but we have not been able to confirm whether the hostages are safe. >> japan's state minister for foreign affairs is in jordan's capital to handle the hostage crisis. he spoke to reporters about an hour before the deadline. >> translator: we are exerting all efforts to rescue them.

>> government officials have asked turkey, jordan and other countries in the region for help in communicating with islamic state. people around japan are calling for the release of the two hostages. [ speaking in foreign language ] >> muslims at a mosque in prefecture prayed for the safety of the hostages. >> muslim not do like this. i pray both outcome safely in japan. >> a man living in tokyo used arabic translation software to post a message on social media. he said he wanted to do something to help. his message is now spreading

globally within arabic speaking communities. a staff member at haruna yukawa's company called for his safe return. >> translator: yukawa may not be in good physical condition, but i want him to return safely. i am looking forward to hearing some good news about his situation. i hope he will be released soon. >> a syrian man living in tokyo is worried about the status of the two men. he saw goto's report on the internet covering the war and poverty in syria. >> goto-san for example, he risk his own life in order to show everybody the suffering of civilian. so for that it's really shocking that they are arresting him and i urge and appeal isis to release him and his colleague. >> the mother of one of the two captives has made a plea for her

son's release. junko ishidou is the mother of freelance journalist kenji goto. >> translator: over the last three dare days i've been grieving and confused. kenji was a very tender and warm hearted child. he was very kind to other children. so i think he decided to go to help his friend, leaving behind his wife and newborn baby. >> she said her son always expressed his desire to save children in war zones and took a neutral position in his reporting. >> translator: kenji always fights for justice.

if he is released, i'm sure that he will contribute to creating a better world for children around the world and their future. i'd like to say to all the people of islamic state that kenji is not your enemy. please, release him. >> she also pleaded with the japanese government to save her son's life. our gene otani spoke earlier with hossaka, a senior research fellow at the institute of energy commission, japan. he's a specialist in the middle east and has been following the islamic state. >> mr. osaka, what is the current situation of the hostage crisis? >> well, the situation is very critical. i am very much worried about the lives of the two japanese

hostages, the time is running out, but we still have to keep our hopes up that they can be rescued. >> this is the first time islamic state has taken japanese nationals hostage. why did they target japanese? >> well islamic state has never criticized japan and the japanese government or the japanese people in their previous statements. i doubt it is specifically targeting japan as it does the u.s. and uk. those are its primary targets. those countries led a military coalition against islamic state. the two japanese may have been caught up in ambush attacks. >> awfully short deadline, 72 hours. >> yeah. >> why do you think it was set at that time frame? >> actually, i'm not sure, but i think they are trying to put a lot of pressure on the japanese government by setting a time limit.

in any case, it is not enough time to prepare such a huge amount of money. >> you talk about huge amount. what do you think of the ran ransom demand? >> well a $200 million ransom is ridiculous. i doubt islamic state really wants that money, the figure is exactly the same as the -- the same amount of humanitarian aid prime minister abe offered to the region during his recent visit to the middle east. the ransom demand seems to be timed to coincident with mr. abe's visit. they must have been waiting for the best time to use the two hostages to shake the islamic -- sorry, the international community. mr. abe was visiting the middle east and he referred to islamic

state and pledged $200 million in aid. they may have seen this as a good time to use the two hostages as negotiation cards. >> what should be done about this crisis? >> well, the japanese government is now in a very difficult situation, but it is trying to -- trying with all its might to negotiate with islamic state and locate, contact, be put in touch with the group. the government is, for instance, calling for other countries in the region to help secure the safety of the two japanese hostages. it is also asking influential muslim clerics and tribal chiefs

who are believed to have a direct access to the militant group. they are hoping to persuade islamic state leadership to release the two japanese hostages. it is very important for the government to make what it is doing clear to the muslim public, stressing that japan is playing a big role in, for instance, the middle east peace process and humanitarian aid in muslim countries. >> what stance should japan take towards islamic state is this. >> well, as you know, japan did not participate in the u.s. led coalition against islamic state, but the message the group is sending to the japanese government and the japanese people is that it considers

japan an honorary member of the coalition. al qaeda has had japan on its enemy list since 2004, but this situation is more complicated. the japanese hostage crisis coincided with the paris attacks. they were carried out aqap, a rival group of islamic state, and resulted in the spread of islam phobia so-called, in europe. it is very important for the japanese government to fight islamic state and terrorism, but at the same time you have to make clear that the government and the people always stand behind islam and muslims, and has to contain potential islam phobia in japan.

china's vice minister for public security says more than 300 chinese have traveled via malaysia to join islamic state. the communist party affiliated newspaper global times says one reported that claim to malaysia's home minister. the paper says mung asked the malaysian government to help prevent chinese from joining the group. the article also quotes an expert as saying the chinese recruits plan to return home and commit terrorism. leaders in china are cracking down in terrorism. they've seen a string of bombings and killings. they say extremists from the uygur ethnic minority could be training abroad ready to stage more attacks back home. analysts say the chinese government appeal for foreign help could be a way to justify the crack down. a syrian man who fled his country's civil war and found a

new home in japan has reunited with his family. usef left syria three years ago. he couldn't get refugee status from japanese authorities, but he got a special residency permit. he met his wife and children for the first time in two and a half years. they had been living in a refugee camp in iraq. japanese authorities don't usually allow syrians without refugee status to invite their families to join them. they changed that policy for the first time. that's raised the hopes of more than 50 other syrians who fled to japan and have not been able to bring relatives. officials at japan's justice ministry are tackling the needs of their country's aging population. they are pushing for a change in the law so more people from other countries can work as caregivers. the only foreigners japanese authorities allow to become care workers are indonesians, filipinos, and vietnamese.

they work under economic partnership agreements. they hope to open nursing care jobs to people from anywhere in the world. they want to grant resident status to any foreigner who graduates from a school in japan and earns a caregivers license. they say that's vital because the japanese population is aging. they'll submit a bill to the diet next week in hopes of getting the law changed. the officials will include measures to make sure foreign workers play by the rules. they'll send out punishments for anyone who gets resident status dishonestly and they'll cancel the visa of anyone who does not do the kind of work for which they have permission. decommissioning work at the crippled fukushima daiichi plant has been hit another setback. the operator says it will not be possible to keep the schedule for cleaning up radioactive water at the site. tokyo electric power company president reported the delay to the head of the government's energy agency.

>> translator: i am very sorry it has not been possible to treat the water as planned. i am aware that the issue makes residents very anxious. >> there is a buildup of highly radioactive water at the site and runoff from nearby mountains and other sources increases the amount of 350,000 liters per day. the water is stored in holding tanks. a leak in august 2013 led to 300,000 liters of contaminated water flowing out of one of the tanks. tepco promised the government it would remove radioactive substances such as strontium and cesium by this march. over 250 liters of contaminated water were scored at the facility as of january 15th, but the main system called alps set up to process water at the site has been shut down repeatedly due to technical problems. the company repaired the system

and installed another one that only removes strontium from the water. the firm revised its definition of cleaned water to mean water with strontium removed, but even this lowered goal meant processing 4 million liters of water per day to meet the deadline. the company says it will decide on a new timetable mid-march. thailand's interim legislature has voted to impeach former prime minister yingluck shinawatra. we go over to patchari raksawong in bangkok. >> the impeachment means that yingluck will be banned from politics for five years. she will not be able to run in parliamentary elections expected to be held as early as next

year. the impeachment has anchored her supporters. nhk world has more. >> reporter: thailand's military selected assembly on industry voted 190-18 to impeach yingluck. it accuses her of dereliction of duty for having incurred losses. the former prime minister rejected the charge at thursday's hearing. she condemned the impeachment effort, saying it's politically motivated. she also said the five year ban from politics would infringe on her human rights. the impeachment relates to a scheme launched by the yingluck administration to support farmers. under the program the government purchased rice at higher than market prices. the scheme was welcomed by rural farmers. they felt they had been left behind as the rest of the country benefited from rapid economic growth. the farmers in the populous northeast made up a strong support base for yingluck. but the plan was criticized for draining the country's covers and breeding corruption. this angered the urban middle

class and elite who went on to become the driving force behind the large scale anti-government demonstrations. as the political confusion deepened the constitutional court removed yingluck as prime minister last may. days before the military coup. on friday prosecutors announced they planned to file a criminal charge against yingluck for alleged dereliction of duty over the rice buying scheme. if convicted she can face a maximum of ten years in prison. political confusion has subsided following the military coup, but the rift between thailand's two political forces runs deep. what we're seeing is only a superficial piece. the improvement moves to file a criminal charge have pushed yingluck into a corner. some people are voicing concerns that this could adversely affect reconciliation among ties which the interim government is aiming for. roslin debhavalya nhk world, bangkok. the majestic mountains of

nepal draw trekkers from all over the world, but the hymn lay i can't say can be a dangerous place for inexperienced hikers. authorities are testing a new system designed to keep them safe. nhk world's yuji tabata reports. >> reporter: the himalayan peaks soar as high as 8,000 meters. the conservation zone is renowned for its standing beauty. the office that grants entry permits to the area gets more crowded every year. applications have nearly tripled in the past decade, but more of the trekkers who flock here have little to no experience. >> never trekked before. everything we have is what we purchased in kathmandu. >> reporter: first timers can be ignorant of the risks. even people with experience face

danger. last october many trekkers became stranded when a seasonal snowstorm hit the area. 43 people died, including foreigners and local guides. the nepalese government is taking steps to ensure trekkers can stay safe. authorities are testing a new system for locating people. trekkers can rent a data transmitter. installed along trekking routes. the system defects the passersby on a realtime basis. with a single click they can be located by id number along with the time they passed. the data also goes online, so families can confirm their loved one's locations. the device has an emergency button that trekkers can press

if they need to be rescued. >> it's very useful. it's really good for, it's very helpful for the trekkers who want to track the individual. >> reporter: but local guides have mixed feelings. this man has been a guide for 15 years. he's impressed by technology, but he worries it could make visitors feel like they don't need help. and that, he says, could be dangerous. >> this mountain and people missing the trail, then they are missing his life. have a guide and be always diligent because guide knows the weather and mountain. >> reporter: he was guiding a spanish group just before the fatal accident last october. he quickly detected the slight changes in the weather and led

the members down the mountain. the decision saved their lives. >> many people die like an individual, yeah, and then some of the guide who have the guide and try to save life. >> reporter: the dramatic allure of the himalaya is hard to resist. this beautiful mountains are also unpredictable and dangerous. technology can help, but local wisdom is still a trekker's best protection. yuichi tabata nhk world, nepal. >> that wraps up our bulletin. i'm patchari raksawong in bangkok. authorities in beijing are encouraging more residents to try winter sports. they want to host the games in

2022, but to win the bid they need to prove they have support at home. nhk world's kunihiro yamamoto reports. >> reporter: people at the ski resort near beijing celebrate world snow day. the day was established by the international ski federation to promote winter sports. >> translator: we want people to have a deeper appreciation of winter games. we want to improve chinese people's skills in snow sports. >> reporter: with their eye on hosting the olympics chinese authorities are promoting winter sports. there are a few experienced skiers around, but the majority are just getting started. china's growing middle class is

catching on gradually. to stage the games beijing plans to use facilities from the 2008 summer olympics. the national indoor stadium which held the fencing event would be turned into an ice hockey arena. curling will be held at the former swimming venue, the national aquatics center. children are key to beijing's bid. to encourage them, the government has provided ice hockey equipment to elementary schools. there are now 96 boys ice hockey teams in beijing. this elementary school launched a new team last week. they must practice every weekend. the children knew how to skate while they have never tried

anything as fierce as hockey. the physical contact was new. some of the kids were overwhelmed. foreign coaches teach techniques on how to handle equipment. they train the kids in english. >> on the ice and you skate. not like this. okay? one, two. >> reporter: 8-year-old jung got hooked on the sport as soon as he saw a demonstration. >> translator: i want to practice more and become a professional player. >> reporter: his parents are backing him. they watch him practice every weekend. >> translator: he enjoys the practice so much that he stays on the ice long after it's over. i want to support him as much as

possible so he can realize his dream some day. >> reporter: the boy's enthusiasm has spread to his father. the two of them read up on hockey tactics. >> translator: i thought ice hockey was a sport for the wealthy, but living standards in china have improved a lot, so even regular people like us can now play. >> reporter: olympic ambitions these young chinese are starting winter sports whether or not beijing becomes host. the winning city will be announced in july. in kuala lumpur. kunihiro yamamoto, nhk world. here are the latest market figures.

now the weekend weather forecast.

that's all this hour on "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. thank you for watching and have a good day.

>> born into the church, his father a minister and his mother played the piano. music and spirituality surrounded him. after earnings a master's he worked as counselor by day and jazz singer by night. eventually the nights won out and the hits followed with "we're in this love together," "boogie down," the theme from the tv series "moonlighting," and even a solo spot on "we are

the world." he has gone on to win grammy awards in three different categories, jazz pop and r&b. i'm ernie manouse coming up on "innerviews" our conversation with seven-time grammy award winning vocalist al jarreau.