4 Japanese freed from Kyrgyz abduction visit Premier Obuchi

4 Japanese freed from Kyrgyz abduction visit Premier Obuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi welcomes 4 Japanese who had been held hostage for 2 months by Muslim rebels in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The freed men, who returned home Oct. 26, called on the premier at his official residence Oct. 29 to report on their ordeal. (From L to R) Toshiaki Ariie, 58, Nobuhisa Nakajima, 49, Premier Obuchi, Hirotaro Fujii, 47, and Haruo Harada, 38.

4 freed Japanese arrive back in Japan

4 freed Japanese arrive back in Japan

NARITA, Japan - Four Japanese mining engineers who were freed after being held hostage for two months by Islamic rebels in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan meet the press at Narita airport, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 26, after arriving from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. The four (from L to R) are Toshiaki Ariie, Haruo Harada, Hirotaro Fujii, and Nobuhisa Nakajima.

4 freed Japanese head back to Japan

4 freed Japanese head back to Japan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Four Japanese mining engineers who were freed after being held hostage for two months by Islamic rebels in Central Asia walk down to a chartered flight bound for Japan on Oct. 26. (From L to R) Nobuhisa Nakajima, Hirotaro Fujii, Toshiaki Ariie and Haruo Harada.

Father of freed hostage smiles on news of son's release

Father of freed hostage smiles on news of son's release

MIYOTA, Japan - Yasuhiko Harada, father of Japanese mining engineer Haruo Harada, who was abducted by Islamic rebels in August in Kyrgyzstan, smiles at his home in Miyota, Nagano Prefecture, on Oct. 25 after hearing his son was released along with three other Japanese and a Kyrgyz national.

File photo of freed Japanese hostages in Kyrgyzstan

File photo of freed Japanese hostages in Kyrgyzstan

TOKYO, Japan - This is a file photo taken last year at a project in Kyrgyzstan which includes three of four Japanese nationals freed by Islamic guerrillas Oct. 24. The Japanese mining engineers are Haruo Harada (R in front row), Hirotaro Fujii (fourth from R in back row) and Toshiaki Ariie (sixth from R in back).

4 Japanese freed from Kyrgyz abduction visit Premier Obuchi

4 Japanese freed from Kyrgyz abduction visit Premier Obuchi

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi welcomes 4 Japanese who had been held hostage for 2 months by Muslim rebels in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The freed men, who returned home Oct. 26, called on the premier at his official residence Oct. 29 to report on their ordeal. (From L to R) Toshiaki Ariie, 58, Nobuhisa Nakajima, 49, Premier Obuchi, Hirotaro Fujii, 47, and Haruo Harada, 38.

Photos of 4 freed Japanese in Central Asia

Photos of 4 freed Japanese in Central Asia

TOKYO, Japan - These are photos taken Monday of the four Japanese mining engineers who were freed Oct. 24 after being held hostage for two months by Islamic rebels in Central Asia. Hirotaro Fujii (L top), Haruo Harada (R top), Toshiaki Ariie (L bottom) and Nobuhisa Nakajima. The four were abducted on Aug. 23 in the Batken district of southern Kyrgyzstan.

4 freed Japanese head back to Japan

4 freed Japanese head back to Japan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Four Japanese mining engineers who were freed after being held hostage for two months by Islamic rebels in Central Asia walk down to a chartered flight bound for Japan on Oct. 26. (From L to R) Nobuhisa Nakajima, Hirotaro Fujii, Toshiaki Ariie and Haruo Harada.

4 freed Japanese arrive back in Japan

4 freed Japanese arrive back in Japan

NARITA, Japan - Four Japanese mining engineers who were freed after being held hostage for two months by Islamic rebels in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan meet the press at Narita airport, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 26, after arriving from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. The four (from L to R) are Toshiaki Ariie, Haruo Harada, Hirotaro Fujii, and Nobuhisa Nakajima.

File photo of freed Japanese hostages in Kyrgyzstan

File photo of freed Japanese hostages in Kyrgyzstan

TOKYO, Japan - This is a file photo taken last year at a project in Kyrgyzstan which includes three of four Japanese nationals freed by Islamic guerrillas Oct. 24. The Japanese mining engineers are Haruo Harada (R in front row), Hirotaro Fujii (fourth from R in back row) and Toshiaki Ariie (sixth from R in back).