Holding candles and posters, a crowd of about 150 people gathered in front of the prime minister's office in Tokyo today to attend a vigil calling for the release of Islamic State hostage Kenji Goto.

Japan has vowed to work with Jordan to secure Goto's release after the killing last week of another Japanese captive, but it reiterated that it would not give in to terrorism.

Vigil organisers said they hoped the government would be able to secure Goto's release.

The hostage crisis has become a test for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took power in 2012 pledging to bolster Japan's global security role.

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