A brother of a Japanese abductee to North Korea has spoken to a group of junior high school students from across Japan to raise awareness of the abduction issue among young people.
Yokota Takuya, a younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi, addressed a gathering of 67 students in Tokyo on Friday. He heads a group of the abductees’ families.
The Japanese government has hosted a “junior high school student summit” every year since 2023. The event is aimed at creating an opportunity for the young generation to think about the abduction issue, as the victims and their families grow older.
Yokota, whose sister Megumi was kidnapped in her first year of junior high school, said that even though 47 years have passed, she remains a 13-year-old girl in the memories of her family. He said he cannot imagine how she looks now that she is 60, and added that he believes she is still waiting to be rescued while living in agony.
Yokota stressed that although the abductions of Japanese nationals occurred in the past, what happened is an unresolved human rights issue that continues to this day. He called on the audience to regard it as an issue of their own.
In February, the father of abductee Arimoto Keiko passed away at the age of 96 without being reunited with his daughter. His death leaves Megumi’s mother, Sakie, aged 89, as the only surviving parent of the 12 government-recognized abductees who remain unaccounted for.
Yokota emphasized that the clock is ticking for his family. He said that while his mother is in good health now, she could fall ill at any time.
AloJapan.com