The Japanese government says a video showing the apparent murder of hostage Kenji Goto appears to be genuine.
The one minute-long footage was apparently released by Islamic State (IS) on Saturday evening.
It purportedly shows the beheading of the Japanese freelance journalist and film-maker, who was a father of three.
The man was wearing an orange jumpsuit and the video was similar to previous beheading footage the militant group has released.
The video was called "A Message to the Government of Japan" and the apparent murderer spoke with a British accent.
He blamed Mr Goto's beheading on Japan's support for the US-led coalition fighting IS in the Middle East.
The kneeling hostage did not speak in the footage.
The Japanese, UK and US governments strongly condemned IS, with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visibly upset as he spoke to reporters in Tokyo.
"I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists," he said.
"We will co-operate with the international community to make them atone for their crimes."
US President Barack Obama said America condemned the "heinous murder" and would continue to work with allies to destroy the jihadist group.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a "further reminder that ISIL is the embodiment of evil, with no regard for human life".
And Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, speaking in Sydney, added: "It is important that we do recognise that although the current challenge is focused around Iraq and Syria, we have to recognise that the underlying challenge of extremist Islamism is going to be with us for a long while.
"This is a generational struggle against this ideology and we are going to have to fight these battles not just in the Middle East, but in other parts of the world as well. There is nowhere that is safe from this challenge."
Speaking from her home in a suburb of Tokyo, Mr Goto's mother Junko Ishido said: "Kenji has died, and my heart is broken.
"Facing such a tragic death, I'm just speechless."
Mr Goto's wife, Rinko, added: "He was not just my loving husband and father to our two beautiful children, but a son, brother and friend to many around the world.
"While feeling a great personal loss, I remain extremely proud of my husband who reported the plight of people in conflict areas like Iraq, Somalia and Syria."
The family of another IS hostage, Jordanian fighter pilot Lt Mu'ath al Kassasbeh, said they were "devastated" by Mr Goto's murder.
His uncle, Yassin Rawashda, has urged the Jordanian government to "tell us the truth", amid concerns that they have not had an update on how negotiations for his release are going.
Mr Goto travelled to Syria in October seeking to secure the release of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa, according to friends and business associates.
Earlier this month, IS released a video of Mr Goto and Mr Yukawa and threatened to kill them unless a $200m (£133m) ransom was paid.
Last week, Mr Abe slammed "an outrageous and unforgivable act" after a video reportedly showing an image of Mr Goto holding a picture of a beheaded Mr Yukawa was posted online.
Mr Goto's family made public pleas to Mr Abe to negotiate his safe release.
Earlier on Saturday, a top Japanese diplomat said there was a "state of deadlock" in negotiations to release Mr Goto.
Japan's deputy foreign minister Yasuhide Nakayama made the comments in the Jordanian capital Amman, where he had been leading Tokyo's team attempting to secure the freedom of the veteran war reporter.
Mr Goto, 47, had appeared in videos released by IS in which his fate was linked to Jordanian pilot Lt Mu'ath al Kassasbeh.
Jordan and Japan held indirect negotiations with the militants, who control around a third of Iraq and Syria, for the release of the men in exchange for a jailed jihadist.
Jordan demanded evidence that the airman who crashed in Syria on December 24 is still alive before freeing the would-be suicide bomber, who is on death row.
IS had said it would kill Jordan's captured pilot by sunset on Thursday unless Iraqi jihadist Sajida al Rishawi was released.
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