Latest news with #YokotaMegumi
NHK
03-06-2025
- General
- NHK
Last living parent of Japanese abductees asks government to work more seriously
The 89-year-old mother of a Japanese woman abducted by North Korea has asked the government to commit itself to bringing back the abductees. Yokota Sakie spoke at a news conference on Tuesday, two days ahead of the 5th anniversary of her husband's death. Yokota Shigeru led the group of abductees' families for a decade after its foundation in 1997. He died in 2020 at the age of 87. Their daughter Yokota Megumi was a first-year junior high school student when she was abducted in November 1977 in Niigata City, central Japan. She will turn 61 in October. Her mother said she has long been frustrated by the lack of progress in resolving the abduction issue. She said she has done everything she could, including meeting with several prime ministers, but she has seen no developments in the nearly 50 years since her daughter was abducted. Sakie is the only surviving parent of the government-recognized abductees who remain unaccounted for. The 96-year-old father of Arimoto Keiko died in February this year. Sakie called on the government to work more seriously as time is running out, saying that she and other family members can do nothing but ask the government to take action. Japan's government has so far recognized 17 citizens as having been abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned home following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the other 12 are unaccounted for.
NHK
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Japan Prime Minister Ishiba pledges utmost efforts to resolve abduction issue
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met with relatives of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea. He pledged to make his utmost efforts to resolve the issue as soon as possible while gaining cooperation from the international community. Members of the group of relatives visited the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday. They included Yokota Takuya, a brother of Yokota Megumi who was kidnapped in 1977 at the age of 13. In the meeting with Ishiba, they pointed out that Megumi's mother, Yokota Sakie, is the only surviving parent of the victims. They also said they hope the government will make concrete diplomatic efforts in line with their wishes. Ishiba said he prays for Mrs. Yokota's longevity, and vows that his government will make all-out efforts to bring her happiness while she is in good health. Ishiba pointed out that the issue is related to sovereignty, and said Japan itself must resolve it in the end. He added that it is important to gain greater understanding of the issue from the world. The Japanese government has so far recognized 17 citizens as having been abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Five returned home following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the other 12 are still unaccounted for. The meeting of the relatives and Ishiba comes after group members, including Yokota Takuya, recently visited the United States. They met with senior government officials and Congress members and asked them for their cooperation.
NHK
29-04-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Japanese abductees' relatives head to Washington seeking support
Two relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have left for the United States to seek support from the Trump administration and US lawmakers for an early resolution of the issue. The relatives are Yokota Takuya, who leads the group of abductees' families, and Iizuka Koichiro. Yokota is the younger brother of Yokota Megumi, who was kidnapped by North Korean agents at the age of 13. Iizuka's mother Taguchi Yaeko was abducted by the North when he was one-year-old. The two plan to meet US government officials and lawmakers of both chambers of Congress while they stay in Washington until May 3. The Japanese government has so far recognized 17 citizens as having been abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Five returned home following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the other 12 are still unaccounted for. Arimoto Akihiro, whose daughter Keiko was abducted and has not returned, died in February at the age of 96. The mother of Yokota Megumi, 89-year-old Yokota Sakie, is now the only surviving parent of the remaining 12 victims. In 2018 during his first term, US President Donald Trump raised the issue of abduction when he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first-ever US-North Korea summit. The abductees' families are asking senior US government officials to support their efforts to bring their loved ones back to Japan as early as possible. They also want the US president to emphasize the need to resolve the issue if he holds another summit meeting with the North Korean leader. Before departing from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday morning, Yokota said that the group wants abduction victims to return home as soon as possible within a limited time period. He said that he wants important US figures to understand that time is running out, and that Japan and the US need to address the issue together. Iizuka said that he is grateful for opportunities to meet and talk about the issue with leading US lawmakers as the relatives need strong US backing to rescue their family members. He said that he wants to make a strong appeal.
NHK
26-04-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Families of people abducted by North Korea collect signatures in Tokyo
Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea collected signatures in Tokyo on Saturday for a petition calling for the early return of all the abductees. About 20 people, including members of the families' group and supporters, gathered on a Ginza district sidewalk to promote the petition. It was the group's first streetside signature-collecting campaign in 12 years. Participants included Yokota Takuya, who leads the group. He is the younger brother of Yokota Megumi, who was abducted at the age of 13. Iizuka Koichiro also took part. His mother Taguchi Yaeko was abducted when he was 1 year old. The group is urging the government to realize the return of all the abductees while their parents and other relatives of that generation are still alive. The group emphasized this point in Saturday's petition campaign. Japan's government has so far recognized 17 citizens as having been abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned home following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the other 12 are unaccounted for. The mother of Yokota Megumi, 89-year-old Yokota Sakie, is now the only surviving parent of the 12 unaccounted for victims. Arimoto Akihiro, whose daughter Keiko was also abducted and has not returned, died in February at the age of 96. Yokota Takuya said parents of the abductees have died one after another and their families have little time left to see the return of their loved ones. He stressed the importance of the group's efforts to appeal to the public, the Japanese government and North Korean authorities. Families of the abductees plan to visit Washington next week and meet with senior officials of President Donald Trump's administration to ask for cooperation in resolving the abduction issue.
