TOKYO - Japan is looking into reports that a Japanese man may have been detained possibly by militants in Syria, the foreign ministry said Monday.

The government was still trying to confirm through the Japanese embassy in Damascus the reports that surfaced over the weekend, such as online posts showing a man being captured, allegedly in Syria, a spokeswoman said in a statement.

His identity, why he was there and other details are not clear.

The Japanese government has warned against travel in Syria, where fighting has been ongoing between Syrian government forces and the Islamic State group and other rebels that control northern Syria and parts of Iraq.

Japan's constitution after World War II prevents the nation from taking part in most military combat. Japan has taken part in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in the Middle East.