KAWASAKI ¨C The mother of Megumi Yokota, a Japanese national abducted by North Korea decades ago, laments the lack of progress in fulfilling her long-cherished wish to bring her daughter back to Japan.
¡°Everyone ages, but I never imagined spending my life in this way,¡± Sakie Yokota, who turned 90 on Wednesday, said in a recent interview with media organizations. ¡°It¡¯s sad to see Japan unable to resolve this issue for so long.¡±
Megumi Yokota was abducted on Nov. 15, 1977, at the age of 13 in the city of Niigata on her way home from junior high school. Her mother has not seen her for 48 years.
¡°We could have lived happily if we were together,¡± Sakie Yokota said. ¡°This is endless suffering.¡±
She revealed that although she suffered from angina a few years ago, she is determined to live as long as possible.
The mother said that she is eager to go to North Korea and convey her determination to resolve the issue. ¡°I don¡¯t care what happens to me.¡±
On Sunday¡¯s snap Lower House election, Yokota expressed reservations over the timing, adding that the government ¡°should give top priority to the rescue of Japanese nationals.¡±
She said that North Korea is waiting for the families of the victims to grow old and die, and added that she wanted to speak out with all her strength and ask whether Japan should remain in a position where it is seen as unable to do anything.
Yokota is now the last living parent of an abductee recognized by the Japanese government who has yet to return home. Akihiro Arimoto, the father of another abductee, Keiko Arimoto, died in February 2025.
At a news conference Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara apologized for not realizing the return of even a single abductee to Japan since 2002.
Kihara noted that the abduction issue, which is the most important issue for the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is not only a humanitarian issue but also a violation of sovereignty. He said that the prime minister has said that she will devote herself to resolving the issue.
¡°We will do everything possible to resolve various issues with North Korea, including the return of all abduction victims as soon as possible,¡± the top government spokesman said.
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