Police in Fukuoka Prefecture, western Japan, say a man armed with a knife holed up inside a restaurant in Fukuoka City on Tuesday morning and is holding two girls hostage.

They say the girls are aged three and six and are the children of the restaurant's owner. They also say the hostage-taker is a former employee of the store.

Japan's Justice Ministry has responded to criticism of the country's criminal justice system by offering a point-by-point explanation on its website.

A section on frequently asked questions features 14 questions and answers in Japanese and English.