A journalists¡¯ association has called on Japan to engage in dialogue with the extremists holding Kenji Goto, a day after an image emerged appearing to show the dead body of fellow hostage Haruna Yukawa.

In a statement issued Sunday in Arabic, English and Japanese, the Japan Visual Journalist Association appealed for ¡°sincere negotiations¡± between the government and the Islamic State group to bring about Goto¡¯s release.

¡°According to the released image and recorded voice message, the Islamic State is seeking to enter negotiations with the Government of Japan; and the Government of Japan has also expressed that human life is the top priority,¡± the statement said. ¡°Non-violent dialogue between the two parties is fully possible.¡±

The message was titled ¡°Emergency Statement Calling for the Release of Kenji Goto.¡±

It said journalists had been shocked by the image of Goto, 47, holding a picture of what appeared to be the decapitated body of the 42-year-old self-styled private security contractor. The image sparked deep ¡°regret and sorrow,¡± the group said.

¡°We had been appealing through our statement that violence cannot resolve anything, however regrettably this wish was trampled upon,¡± it said, apparently referring to previous communiques the group issued.

The statement concluded with the wish that ¡°all Arab people living in the midst of conflict be released from their suffering.¡±

In a previous release, the group described Goto as ¡°one of the few journalists who has reported on television and through the Internet on the suffering of civilians in war-torn Iraq and Syria.¡±