Japan demands swift release of national detained in Iran

RiddleMaster · 2026-02-25T04:35:11+00:00

The Japanese government demands the swift release of a national detained in Iran since January 20. Reports suggest NHK's Tehran bureau chief may be involved, though the broadcaster has not confirmed details.

RiddleMaster

2026-02-25 04:35:11

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TOKYO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A Japanese national has been detained in Iran and must be swiftly released, the Japanese government said on Wednesday.

The person was detained on January 20, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki told reporters. He gave no further details.

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Radio Free Europe earlier reported that Shinnosuke Kawashima, the Tehran bureau chief of Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, had been arrested by Iran and transferred to a Tehran prison.

NHK declined to confirm that an employee of theirs had been detained.

“As NHK, we always act with the safety of our staff as the top priority. There is nothing we can answer at this stage,” a spokesperson said.

Reporting by Anton Bridge and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Stephen Coates

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