08 April 2026 :

April 7, 2026 - IRAN. Japanese Government Announces Release of Detained Citizen in Iran

Shinnosuke Kawashima

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary announced that a Japanese citizen who had been detained in Iran last year was released on bail yesterday.
According to Shargh News, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary stated: on Monday, April 6, 2026, a Japanese citizen who had been arrested on January 20, 2026, was released on bail. Minoru Kihara declined to provide further details regarding the identity of the citizen or the charges against him.

Previously, Masanao Ozaki, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, had announced that a Japanese citizen had been detained in Iran and, without providing further details, had asked Iranian authorities to release him promptly.

Also, on March 22, 2026, Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s Foreign Minister, had announced the release of one of two Japanese citizens detained in Iran. However, he also did not disclose the identity of the released citizen or the other detained citizen.

Fars News Agency, citing some media outlets, had also reported that the detained individual was possibly Shinnosuke Kawashima, head of the Tehran bureau of Japan’s public broadcaster. This claim, however, has not yet been confirmed by official authorities.