Middle East
24 January 2015
Last updated at 12:56 ET
Islamic State had demanded a ransom in return for sparing the hostages' lives
Mr Abe said Japan "will not give in to terrorism".
On Tuesday the group threatened to kill Mr Yukawa and fellow Japanese hostage Kenji Goto unless Japan paid $200m (£130m) within 72 hours.
The video purports to show Mr Goto holding a picture of what appears to be the body of Mr Yukawa, and issuing a new demand from IS in return for his own release.
US National Security Council official Patrick Ventrell said the US was also trying to establish the authenticity of the video and was closely co-ordinating with Japan.
'Unforgivable act' Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said the video image "showing a killed Japanese person" was "an abominable and unforgivable act of violence".
"We strongly condemn this action," he said.
"We strongly request that no harm be done to the remaining person, Kenji Goto, and that he be released immediately."
There is some uncertainty over whether the video released on Saturday officially comes from Islamic State.
Unlike similar previous videos, the latest recording does not carry the logo of any IS media arms, and consists of an audio message with a still image. Other official videos have shown moving footage.
Kenji Goto is a well-known freelance journalist and documentary film-maker. Mr Yukawa had reportedly gone to Syria to set up a private military contracting company.
In a video released on Tuesday, a masked man was shown standing over kneeling hostages named as Mr Yukawa and Mr Goto and demanding the ransom.
The ransom is the same amount as that pledged in non-military aid for countries fighting IS by Prime Minister Abe during a recent tour of the Middle East.
Who are Islamic State (IS)?
by Xian Wan, Nasra Ismail, and Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Islamic State had demanded a ransom in return for sparing the hostages' lives
Japan
says it is seeking to verify a video that claims Japanese hostage
Haruna Yukawa, held by Islamic State (IS) militants, has been killed.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denounced the video as "absurd and unforgivable" following an emergency cabinet meeting.Mr Abe said Japan "will not give in to terrorism".
On Tuesday the group threatened to kill Mr Yukawa and fellow Japanese hostage Kenji Goto unless Japan paid $200m (£130m) within 72 hours.
The video purports to show Mr Goto holding a picture of what appears to be the body of Mr Yukawa, and issuing a new demand from IS in return for his own release.
US National Security Council official Patrick Ventrell said the US was also trying to establish the authenticity of the video and was closely co-ordinating with Japan.
'Unforgivable act' Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said the video image "showing a killed Japanese person" was "an abominable and unforgivable act of violence".
"We strongly condemn this action," he said.
"We strongly request that no harm be done to the remaining person, Kenji Goto, and that he be released immediately."
There is some uncertainty over whether the video released on Saturday officially comes from Islamic State.
Unlike similar previous videos, the latest recording does not carry the logo of any IS media arms, and consists of an audio message with a still image. Other official videos have shown moving footage.
Kenji Goto is a well-known freelance journalist and documentary film-maker. Mr Yukawa had reportedly gone to Syria to set up a private military contracting company.
In a video released on Tuesday, a masked man was shown standing over kneeling hostages named as Mr Yukawa and Mr Goto and demanding the ransom.
The ransom is the same amount as that pledged in non-military aid for countries fighting IS by Prime Minister Abe during a recent tour of the Middle East.
- Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
- It then captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
- Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
- Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of captives and public executions
- The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria
Islamic State
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