Latest news with #Yokota
The Star
6 days ago
- General
- The Star
Japanese mother of abductee frustrated by lack of resolution to issue; no abductees have returned to Japan from North Korea since 2002
Sakie Yokota speaks during a press conference next to a photo of her deceased husband Shigeru in Kawasaki on Tuesday (June 3, 2025). - Photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun KAWASAKI, (Japan): The mother of a Japanese woman abducted by North Korea said she is saddened by the absence of her husband and frustrated at 'not being able to resolve the situation.' Sakie Yokota, 89, spoke at a press conference in Kawasaki, where she lives, on Tuesday (June 3), two days before the fifth anniversary of her husband Shigeru's death. Their daughter Megumi was kidnapped when she was 13. Shigeru became the first representative of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, which was formed in 1997. Shigeru traveled across the country, making appeals to resolve the issue. However, he was never able to reunite with his daughter. On Tuesday, Yokota recalled how her husband always ate the food she prepared and told her how delicious it was. '[Shigeru] talked to me about everything,' she said. 'He was a very kind person.' Regarding the abductees, five returned to Japan in October 2002, but since then, not a single person has been returned. Yokota said she talks to Shigeru's photo, which she keeps in the living room, every day. She tells him, 'It has been so long and there has been no change.' Akihiro Arimoto, the father of another abductee Keiko Arimoto, who was abducted when she was 23, died in February at 96, leaving Yokota as the only member of abductees' parents' generation still alive. 'I don't know if I will ever be able to see [Megumi] again either,' Yokota said. 'I hope the government will work on the issue more seriously.' - Yomiuri Shimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japanese Mother of Abductee Frustrated by Lack of Resolution to Issue; No Abductees Have Returned to Japan from North Korea Since 2002
The Yomiuri Shimbun Sakie Yokota speaks during a press conference next to a photo of her deceased husband Shigeru in Kawasaki on Tuesday. KAWASAKI — The mother of a Japanese woman abducted by North Korea said she is saddened by the absence of her husband and frustrated at 'not being able to resolve the situation.' Sakie Yokota, 89, spoke at a press conference in Kawasaki, where she lives, on Tuesday, two days before the fifth anniversary of her husband Shigeru's death. Their daughter Megumi was kidnapped when she was 13. Shigeru became the first representative of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, which was formed in 1997. Shigeru traveled across the country, making appeals to resolve the issue. However, he was never able to reunite with his daughter. On Tuesday, Yokota recalled how her husband always ate the food she prepared and told her how delicious it was. '[Shigeru] talked to me about everything,' she said. 'He was a very kind person.' Regarding the abductees, five returned to Japan in October 2002, but since then, not a single person has been returned. Yokota said she talks to Shigeru's photo, which she keeps in the living room, every day. She tells him, 'It has been so long and there has been no change.' Akihiro Arimoto, the father of another abductee Keiko Arimoto, who was abducted when she was 23, died in February at 96, leaving Yokota as the only member of abductees' parents' generation still alive. 'I don't know if I will ever be able to see [Megumi] again either,' Yokota said. 'I hope the government will work on the issue more seriously.'
Toronto Sun
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Toronto Sun
The intentional home
'When items are clearly labelled, your brain stops scanning and starts focusing,' family therapist turned interior designer Anita Yokota. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Turn your home into a space that supports well-being This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account At a recent event (hosted by label maker brand Brother) exploring The Psychology of Home Organization, family therapist turned interior designer and best-selling author Anita Yokota shared a perspective about intentional design that hit home– literally. She revealed that how we arrange our physical environment impacts how we think, feel and connect – with ourselves and others. It was one of those Oprah a-ha moments. After all, our homes have become so much more than where we live and entertain – they are now our offices, gyms, sanctuaries and emotional support stations. Yokota emphasized that intentional design is no longer a luxury; it's a form of self-care. 'Your home is the most honest mirror of your inner life,' she says. 'Designing with intention means rewriting the emotional blueprint we live within.' Powerful right? Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This idea –of living with design that supports the whole self– is gaining momentum. Interior designer Jessica Cinnamon of Jessica Cinnamon Design agrees, 'From mental health to physical comfort, homeowners are looking for more than aesthetics; they want spaces that actively help them feel calm, focused and restored.' Cinnamon incorporates wellness into her design process from day one. 'It means considering every sensory and spatial detail from natural light and ventilation to calming colour palettes and layout flow,' she explains. That power, she adds, is amplified when biophilic elements such as wood, stone, plants and sunlight are integrated, creating a deeper connection between indoor spaces and the natural world. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Yokota takes a similarly holistic approach, guiding clients to consider their emotional, physical, and psychological needs simultaneously. 'I always ask, not just 'How do you want to feel in this room?' but also 'How do you want the relationship in this space to feel, even the one you have with yourself?'' This kind of self-reflection lays the foundation for spaces that are truly tailored to the people who live in them. Of course, meaningful change doesn't require a full renovation. In fact, Yokota believes that transformation begins with small, thoughtful shifts. 'Many homeowners live with constant micro-stress caused by visual noise,' she says. 'Think of front entries cluttered with shoes and bags, mismatched storage bins, or furniture that blocks natural movement through a room. That chaos, whether we consciously register it or not, keeps our nervous system on high alert.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The solution? Containment paired with softness. 'Use closed storage to contain visual clutter but balance that function with softness such as woven baskets, textured fabrics, warm lighting, and meaningful art,' Yokota suggests. When storage systems are supported by visual warmth, space doesn't just feel tidy; it feels alive. One of Yokota's favourite tools to restore flow in high-use areas such as a kitchen, entryway and office is the Brother P-touch label maker. 'When items are clearly labelled, your brain stops scanning and starts focusing,' she says. 'It's a subtle change that helps create clarity and supports day-to-day rhythm.' Creating intentional systems also helps everyone in the household stay on the same page. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Yokota recommends designated drop zones, family message boards or colour-coded bins to reinforce routines. 'But don't forget the heart,' she adds. 'Layer in personal touches such as family photos or your child's artwork. Calm isn't about minimalism; it's about meaning. When a space has both structure and soul, everyone thrives.' Cinnamon agrees that function and family go hand in hand. 'I focus on creating spaces that are efficient, resilient, and easy to live in,' she says. 'That means maximizing storage, choosing durable, easy-to-clean materials, and incorporating multifunctional furniture that adapts as life changes.' Before making any major changes, Yokota suggests taking an 'emotional inventory.' Ask yourself: What kind of energy exists in this space right now? Is it chaotic, stagnant, or rushed? Or maybe there's warmth, but only in some areas. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Then consider what you want to feel instead. Do you crave more ease in the morning, more connection around the table, and more inspiration at your desk? 'Let the answer guide your next step,' she says. 'That's your design cue.' Often, it's the smallest adjustments that create the most impact. Crack a window for fresh air. Shift furniture to open the flow. Remove items that feel heavy with old energy. Bring in light where it's missing. Play music to shift the mood. 'These micro-edits act like energetic acupuncture,' says Yokota. 'They signal to your body and mind that something new is possible and that you're in control of the energy you live with.' Both designers agree: the goal isn't perfection– it's alignment. 'And alignment starts when you give yourself permission to notice, feel, and gently shift what no longer serves you,' concludes Yokota. After all, when your space reflects your values, habits follow, that is where real transformation begins at home and intention flourishes.
Ottawa Citizen
14-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Ottawa Citizen
Modern living: The intentional home
Article content At a recent event (hosted by label maker brand Brother) exploring The Psychology of Home Organization, family therapist turned interior designer and best-selling author Anita Yokota shared a perspective about intentional design that hit home– literally. She revealed that how we arrange our physical environment impacts how we think, feel and connect – with ourselves and others. It was one of those Oprah a-ha moments. After all, our homes have become so much more than where we live and entertain – they are now our offices, gyms, sanctuaries and emotional support stations. Article content Article content Article content Yokota emphasized that intentional design is no longer a luxury; it's a form of self-care. 'Your home is the most honest mirror of your inner life,' she says. 'Designing with intention means rewriting the emotional blueprint we live within.' Powerful right? Article content This idea – of living with design that supports the whole self – is gaining momentum. Interior designer Jessica Cinnamon of Jessica Cinnamon Design agrees, 'From mental health to physical comfort, homeowners are looking for more than aesthetics; they want spaces that actively help them feel calm, focused and restored.' Article content Article content Cinnamon incorporates wellness into her design process from day one. 'It means considering every sensory and spatial detail from natural light and ventilation to calming colour palettes and layout flow,' she explains. That power, she adds, is amplified when biophilic elements such as wood, stone, plants and sunlight are integrated, creating a deeper connection between indoor spaces and the natural world. Article content Article content Yokota takes a similarly holistic approach, guiding clients to consider their emotional, physical, and psychological needs simultaneously. 'I always ask, not just 'How do you want to feel in this room?' but also 'How do you want the relationship in this space to feel, even the one you have with yourself?'' This kind of self-reflection lays the foundation for spaces that are truly tailored to the people who live in them. Article content Of course, meaningful change doesn't require a full renovation. In fact, Yokota believes that transformation begins with small, thoughtful shifts. 'Many homeowners live with constant micro-stress caused by visual noise,' she says. 'Think of front entries cluttered with shoes and bags, mismatched storage bins, or furniture that blocks natural movement through a room. That chaos, whether we consciously register it or not, keeps our nervous system on high alert.'
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
3 sweet treats to try at Time Out Market Osaka
Julian♡Sucré♡Acid brings together three of Osaka's most innovative sweets purveyors: Julian Ice Cream, leading bakery Le Sucré Coeur and pâtisserie Acid Racines. At the heart of it all is Julian's owner and indomitable showman Masuhiro Yokota, who aims to leverage this unique collaboration to create reimagined – and elevated – versions of classic Japanese coffeeshop treats. Yokota's vision is encapsulated in the trio's pudding à la Mode (¥1,200), in which the orthodox combination of firm custard pudding and bits of fresh fruits is discarded in favour of a pairing with Julian's signature vanilla ice cream, raspberry jam and a piece of house-made waffle cone. The obligatory maraschino cherry is there, too – kind of: in this version, the pretty-looking but less than appetising garnish has been swapped out for a heart-shaped piece of pink chocolate.
