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Yasuda, who went missing in Syria more than three years ago and confirmed Wednesday by the Japanese government, is scheduled to arrive in Japan later on Thursday, NHK said.
"I'm happy to be able to go back to Japan, but at the same time, I do not know what will happen or what I should do, I think about what I have to do," Yasuda, 44, said earlier. board of a flight from the city of Antakya to the south of Turkey bound for Istanbul.
On the same flight, he told NHK that his time as a captive was a hell both physically and psychologically.
He added that the idea of not being released day after day had led him to lose control of himself and that living in a cell had become normal to him, although paradoxically he was not sure. acted of a painful reality.
Regarding his release, Yasuda told NHK that he had been taken by car and handed over to the Turkish authorities at the border and taken to immigration.
He indicated that the handover went smoothly.
On Wednesday, the Japanese government confirmed that a man released by Syrian militants was Yasuda well.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said at a press conference on Wednesday that Yasud 's security had been confirmed and that the government had been informed that at first glance he had been told that he had been killed. air healthy.
Kono said Japan hoped to bring Yasuda home as soon as possible after checking his health.
Yasuda disappeared after entering Syria three years ago to cover the civil war. He feared being held captive by militants in this Middle Eastern country.
Japanese Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said late Tuesday that the Qatari government had informed Japan of Yasuda's release.
Qatari officials said Mr. Yasuda was in an immigration center in the Turkish city of Antakya.
Japan has been coordinating closely with several countries to secure the release of the journalist.
Among these people are Qatar and Turkey, said Kono, adding that the Japanese government has made every effort to ensure the safety of Yasuda.
The Japanese government was grateful for the confirmation of the security of Yasuda and the governments of Qatar and Turkey, as well as others involved in his release, Kono said.
Suga denied Wednesday that Japan had obtained the release of Yasuda by paying a ransom despite claims to the contrary of some organizations.
It was initially thought that Yasuda had been captured and detained by a group linked to al-Qaida.
It later appeared that he could have been entrusted to a marginal organization of the militant group.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also thanked the Turkish and Qatari leaders for helping to release Yasuda.
