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Tokyo – The news of a video purportedly showing the killing of Kenji Goto, a journalist held hostage by Islamic State militants, rushed through Japan early yesterday.

Here are some voices and thoughts of ordinary people, Goto’s family and officials in a nation that has long held pacific views and where many were not emotionally prepared to cope with the hostage crisis, especially one that involved a reporter known for his coverage of children and the poor:

l “It could have happened to anyone. I’m terrified. Maybe an attack could happen even here,” said Tomoko Ogino, a 51-year-old cosmetics company employee, as she clutched a Yomiuri newspaper extra on the militant video being handed out on a busy downtown Tokyo street corner.

l “It’s horrible. It’s crazy. The Islamic State is just a criminal organisation, not even a real country,” said Hiroyuki Sakai, 66, a cab driver, who said he had heard the news on the morning radio broadcast.

l “It’s so sad, but Kenji has left us on a journey,” said Junko Ishido, 78, Kenji Goto’s mother. “Please forgive me for not finding any words.”

l “I had been praying for his release, but God did not hear my prayers,” said Ekken Choh, 68, who works at a jewellery business. “All people are brothers and sisters. It’s so pointless to kill.”

l “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 favour outspoken people.

l “We’ll never forgive the terrorists, and we’ll work with the international community to make sure they pay for their sins. Japan will not give in to terrorism,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Meanwhile, members of the Islamic State group have acknowledged for the first time that they were defeated in the Syrian town of Kobani.

In a video released by the pro-IS Aamaq News Agency late on Friday, two fighters said air strikes by the US-led coalition were the main reason why they were forced to withdraw from Kobani.

On Monday, activists and Kurdish officials said the town was cleared of IS fighters, who once held nearly half of the town.

The failure to capture Kobani was a major blow to the extremists, whose hopes for an easy victory dissolved into a costly siege under withering air strikes by coalition forces and an assault by Kurdish militiamen. — AP