The Japanese government has strongly denounced the recent massacre in the Houla Western Syria, indicating that the Syrian government bears part of the responsibility to what it described as a "tragedy". "We resolutely condemn this kind of inhumane act of violence and offer our condolences to the victims," Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said on the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). Fujimura said it is clear that the Syrian government bears part of the responsibility for the tragedy. Japan will press Syria to carry out steps proposed by the United Nations to end the violence and fulfill its responsibility to protect its citizens, he added.