Story highlights Photo emerges of Japanese journalist assumed kidnapped in Syria

Jumpei Yasuda is shown holding a sign which says "please help me"

Tokyo (CNN) A photo of a Japanese hostage in Syria holding up a sign which reads, "Please help me," and "This is the last chance," along with his name in Japanese has emerged about two months after he was last seen in what appeared to be a hostage video.

The newer image shows a heavily-bearded Jumpei Yasuda, wearing an orange shirt, holding the handwritten sign. CNN cannot verify when the photo was taken.

Neither proof-of-life posting, however, definitively identifies his captors.

JUST WATCHED Video surfaces of journalist missing in Syria Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Video surfaces of journalist missing in Syria 00:59

Al Qaeda-affiliated al Nusra front is active in the area where he was believed to be taken, but ISIS -- which has beheaded captive foreign journalists -- is the the dominant militant group there.

الصحفي المخطوف في سورية جامبي ياسودا يوجه رسالة مناشدة انقذوني هذه اخر فرصة من اجل اطلاق سراحه. pic.twitter.com/tFtWm4osvF — طارق عبد الحق (@tarikabdaluhak) May 29, 2016

Yasuda's mother told Japanese state broadcaster NHK that she learned about the news after she woke up this morning. She believes it is her son in the image.