The Japanese government on Wednesday (October 24th) confirmed that a journalist kidnapped in Syria more than three years ago has been freed and is in Turkey, AFP reported.

"We have confirmed the safety of Jumpei Yasuda, who had been held captive in Syria since 2015," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said. "He appears to be in good health... We are very glad he is safe."

Embassy officials have visited the 44-year-old freelancer at an immigration centre in Antakya in Turkey, and he is expected to return to Japan soon, after health checks.

Yasuda was seized in northern Syria, reportedly by the former al-Nusra Front, which is now operating as part of the Tahrir al-Sham alliance.

Tahrir al-Sham denied any involvement in a statement Tuesday.

In August, videos emerged showing Yasuda and an Italian national, Alessandro Sandrini, appealing for their release.

Both men were wearing orange outfits with armed, masked men standing behind them. The videos did not identify which group was holding the men or include specific demands.

In 2015, "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) elements beheaded Japanese war correspondent Kenji Goto and his friend Haruna Yukawa in Syria.