Japan Caught in Rare Hostage Crisis as International Role Builds

A video showing an Islamic State militant threatening to execute two Japanese men has thrust Prime Minister Shinzo Abe into a hostage crisis just as he seeks to bolster the country’s profile in global security and diplomacy.

The video emerged as Abe toured the Middle East promoting a greater contribution to efforts to contain militancy, pledging $200 million in non-military aid to countries fighting Islamic State. Last year he reinterpreted the country’s almost seven-decade old pacifist constitution to permit Japan to come to the defense of other countries.