Latest news with #TakuyaYokota
NHK
01-07-2025
- Politics
- NHK
UN rapporteur hopes for unity on return of N.Korea abductees
A senior UN official has reportedly called for the international community to unite on resolving North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens as soon as possible. The special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation, Elizabeth Salmon, met Yokota Sakie and other relatives of Japanese abductees on Tuesday in Tokyo. Yokota's daughter Megumi was abducted in 1977 when she was 13 years old. The relatives told Salmon that time is running out, noting that 89-year-old Yokota became the sole surviving parent of an abductee after the father of another victim died in February. Salmon reportedly told them that the abductees' human rights have been gravely violated, and she shares their anger, sorrow and suffering. After the meeting, Yokota said Salmon explained that she feels indignant and she will continue working to resolve the issue. Yokota also said she hopes that many countries will unite and try to bring all the abductees back to their families. Yokota's son Takuya, who is the leader of the families' group, said the global community must not tolerate North Korea's human rights violations. He urged the Japanese government to work hard to bring all the victims home as soon as possible.
Japan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Families demand North Korea return all Japanese abductees
Families of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea and their supporters held a national rally in Tokyo on Saturday to demand the immediate return of all abductees. "We really have no time left," a participant said, bearing in mind that Sakie Yokota, 89, the mother of abductee Megumi, has become the only surviving member of the generation of the abductees' parents. Megumi was kidnapped in 1977 when she was 13. The rally was attended by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. At the beginning of the event, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Akihiro Arimoto, the father of abductee Keiko, who died in February this year. Keiko disappeared in Europe in 1983 when she was 23. Takuya Yokota, 56, a younger brother of Megumi and head of a group of families of abductees, gave a speech calling for a Japan-North Korea summit. "We really have no time left. We want the Japanese government to take action so that we can reunite with our family members and siblings who were abducted," he said. Ishiba emphasized the significance of appealing to the international community to solve the problem. "We will by all means make a breakthrough. We will make further approaches through various channels," he said, expressing his eagerness to meet directly with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Megumi "disappeared suddenly," her mother recalled, saying that she had "walked along the beach, searching and crying." She asked for support for the resolution of the abduction issue. The rally, organized mainly by the family group and an organization supporting such families, brought together about 800 people, including lawmakers. During the event, a resolution was adopted requesting the Japanese government and North Korea to realize the immediate return of all abductees.
Japan Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Relatives urge North Korea to release abductees
Relatives of Japanese people kidnapped by North Korea decades ago urged the reclusive country Sunday to release the abduction victims. "We want you to release our beloved family members held as hostages," Takuya Yokota, head of an association of families of abductees, told a news conference in Tokyo, making a plea to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The news conference was held after members of the association, including Yokota, 56, returned from a trip to the United States earlier in the day. During the visit, the association members and Japanese lawmakers working to realize the return of abductees met with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other U.S. officials in Washington to seek their cooperation to resolve the major humanitarian issue as early as possible. This was the first visit to the U.S. by members of the association since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. At the news conference, Yokota said, "Meeting with key persons (in the U.S. administration) itself will be a strong pressure (on North Korea)." "It was meaningful for us to be able to confirm (with the U.S.) that Japan will never compromise on the abduction issue," he said. "We must never give up," Yokota said. Yokota's sister, Megumi, was abducted to North Korea in 1977 at the age of 13.
04-05-2025
- Politics
Relatives Urge N. Korea to Release Abductees
News from Japan Society May 4, 2025 21:13 (JST) Tokyo, May 4 (Jiji Press)--Relatives of Japanese people kidnapped by North Korea decades ago urged the reclusive country Sunday to release the abduction victims early. "We want you to release our beloved family members held as hostages," Takuya Yokota, head of an association of families of abductees, told a press conference in Tokyo, making this plea to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The press conference was held after members of the association, including Yokota, 56, returned from a trip to the United States earlier in the day. During the visit, the association members and Japanese lawmakers working to realize the return of abductees met with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other U.S. officials in Washington to seek their cooperation to resolve the major humanitarian issue as early as possible. This was the first visit to the United States by members of the association since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Forward
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Families of Abductees Relaunch Petition Drive After 12 Years
このページを 日本語 で読む On April 26, the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea held a street campaign in Tokyo's Ginza district. They called for public cooperation in signing a petition urging the Japanese government to rescue the abductees as soon as possible. Participants included Takuya Yokota (56), younger brother of Megumi Yokota (now 60, abducted at age 13), and Koichiro Iizuka (48), son of Yaeko Taguchi (now 69, abducted at age 22). Three other family members also took part. According to the support organization Sukuukai (The National Association for the Rescue of Abducted Japanese), this was the first time in about 12 years that multiple family members organized and led a street petition drive. Takuya Yokota speaks out during a signature campaign at Ginza's Sukiyabashi crossing. April 26, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki) With many of the abductees' parents passing away in recent years, the association adopted a new action policy in February. The goal is to intensify appeals to public opinion and break the longstanding deadlock. Since its founding in March 1997, the group has collected more than 19.2 million signatures. It now aims to surpass 20 million by the end of 2025. At the campaign site near Sukiyabashi intersection in Ginza, banners read: "The government must do everything in its power to rescue all abductees within this year!" Families and supporters stood in line, calling out to passersby: "Each signature makes a difference. Please lend us your support." The campaign coincided with the start of Golden Week, a string of national holidays in late April and early May. Ginza was bustling with shoppers and tourists. While relatively few people stopped to engage, some did pause to listen or reach for a petition form. Takashi Niinuma (72), an office worker in Tokyo, said, "I'm from the same generation as Sakie Yokota (Megumi's mother). As a parent, imagining what it would be like to have your child taken from you is truly heart-wrenching. I signed the petition in hopes of offering even the slightest support." A 77-year-old woman from Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture, added, "I saw the families often on TV, so I decided to sign. I hope they keep going, but in the end, this is a problem that politics must resolve." Takuya Yokota stands on the street asking passersby to sign the petition. April 26, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki) The last such petition campaign was held in April 2013 near JR Ochanomizu Station. At that time, the group was nearing its previous goal of 10 million signatures. Megumi's father, Shigeru Yokota (who died in 2020 at age 87), and her mother, Sakie (now 89), both participated. Sakie did not attend the latest event. Although she was eager to join, her son Takuya persuaded her to prioritize her health. He reportedly told her, "If Megumi returns and you're not here, it would be meaningless." Explaining the decision to relaunch a public petition campaign, Takuya said, "The association has long aimed to bring the abductees home while their parents are still alive. Now, only my mother remains. We felt it was necessary to renew our appeal to public opinion for swift progress." After the signature campaign at Ginza's Sukiyabashi intersection, Tetsuya Yokota, Takuya Yokota, and Koichiro Iizuka speak to the press. Takuya brought a photo of Keiko Arimoto to the event. April 26, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki) Koichiro Iizuka commented, "With this petition, I believe we were able to revive public memory and raise awareness among new audiences. If we give up, it's over. So we'll continue to raise our voices." Author: Shoki Nakamura, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
