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July 24, 2026
 

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MEGUMI YOKOTA

Sakie Yokota (center, back), mother of North Korean abductee Megumi Yokota, and others attend a rally held in Tokyo on Saturday that called for the immediate return of Japanese people abducted by North Korea.
51勛圖厙
May 31, 2026
Tokyo rally urges return of all Japanese abductees held in North Korea
Relatives of those abducted to North Korea decades ago expressed hopes for the return of abductees immediately and while their parents are still alive.
Sakie Yokota (fourth from left) and former classmates of her daughter, Megumi, hand a list of signatures to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (third from right) at the Prime Minister's Office on Jan. 19.
51勛圖厙
Feb 4, 2026
90-year-old mother of abductee laments lack of progress on securing return
Sakie Yokota has not seen her daughter, Megumi, since her 1977 abduction at the age of 13 in the city of Niigata on her way home from junior high school.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (third from right) receives signatures and a message from Masaki Ikeda (fourth from right), who heads a group of former classmates of Megumi Yokota, at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday. Fourth from left is Megumi's mother, Sakie Yokota,
51勛圖厙 / Politics
Jan 20, 2026
Japan＊s top government spokesman meets Sakie Yokota, mother of abductee Megumi
In the meeting, Sakie said she hopes there will be some progress this year on the issue of repatriating Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.
Sakie Yokota (center) and Takuya Yokota (left) at a news conference after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo last month
51勛圖厙
Nov 16, 2025
After 48 years, families of Japanese abductees still waiting for progress
Progress on the abduction issue has stalled since the early 2000s, when some abductees returned to Japan under then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Sakie Yokota, 89, speaks to reporters in Kawasaki on Tuesday. "Why can't such an important matter be resolved? I'm stunned," she said.
51勛圖厙
Nov 12, 2025
After decades of waiting, mother fears she may never see her abducted daughter returned
Megumi Yokota was taken by North Korea in 1977. Her 89-year-old mother is still waiting for her return, but says she is ※completely exhausted now.§
A banner calling for the resolution of the issue of abductions by North Korea is displayed near the Diet building in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on June 10.
51勛圖厙
Jun 29, 2025
Families of Japanese abductees race against time
Negotiations between Japan and North Korea have remained at a standstill since October 2002, when five victims were repatriated.
Sakie Yokota, mother of a North Korean abduction victim, said she feels "great loneliness" after the death of her husband, whom she described as a "serious person."
51勛圖厙
Jun 5, 2025
Mother of North Korean abductee urges government to have sense of mission over issue
Her husband, Shigeru, died in 2020 at the age of 87 without being able to see his abducted daughter again.
Sakie Yokota (center) and other family members of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea held a national rally in Tokyo on Saturday to demand the immediate return of all abductees.
51勛圖厙
May 25, 2025
Families demand North Korea return all Japanese abductees
The rally, organized mainly by the family group and an organization supporting such families, brought together about 800 people, including lawmakers.
Takuya Yokota, the leader of a group of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago (left), asks people for signatures to seek their return during a campaign held in Tokyo on Saturday.
51勛圖厙
Apr 27, 2025
Family members of North Korea abductees hold Tokyo campaign to seek their return
Meanwhile, in Washington, 17 members of U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to ※prioritize§ the return of the Japanese abductees.
Classmates and others planted cherry trees on Thursday in the city of Niigata, praying for the swift return of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea.
51勛圖厙
Apr 11, 2025
Abductee Megumi Yokota＊s classmates donate cherry trees to school
Megumi＊s father, Shigeru, photographed her standing in front of cherry trees at Yorii junior high school seven months before she was kidnapped.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba raised North Korea's past abduction of Japanese nationals during his first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Friday.
51勛圖厙
Feb 9, 2025
Head of abductees＊ families relieved over Japan-U.S. talks
Takuya Yokota, 56, is a brother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 when she was just 13 years old.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks on Saturday in Tokyo at a rally that was held by a group of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago to demand the immediate return of all abductees.
51勛圖厙 / Politics
Nov 24, 2024
Ishiba shelves proposal for liaison offices with North Korea amid rising tensions
The Prime Minister has expressed his commitment to resolving the abduction issue, as well as his willingness to hold talks with Kim Jong Un.
Sakie Yokota, 88, speaks during a news conference in Kawasaki on Tuesday.
51勛圖厙
Nov 13, 2024
Mother of North Korea abductee laments lack of progress over issue
※I wonder why this issue has dragged on so long,§ said 88-year-old Sakie Yokota. Her daughter, Megumi Yokota, went missing 47 years ago.
Sakie Yokota, the mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korean agents decades ago, meets with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo Thursday.
51勛圖厙
Oct 17, 2024
Ishiba meets families of North Korean abductees for first time as PM
The prime minister expressed a willingness to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the abductions.
Sakie Yokota shares her thoughts ahead of her abducted daughter's 60th birthday, on Thursday in Kawasaki.
51勛圖厙
Oct 5, 2024
Sakie Yokota expresses hopes for a reunion on daughter＊s 60th birthday
Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at the age of 13. If a reunion is realized, ※I just hope to hug her silently,§ Sakie said.
51勛圖厙
Jun 5, 2023
For Sakie Yokota, one of two living North Korea abductee parents, resolving issue remains priority
Yokota, 87, marked the third anniversary of her husband＊s death with an expression of concern over resolving the issue of people kidnapped by the reclusive regime.
51勛圖厙
May 1, 2023
Group supporting abductee Megumi Yokota＊s family turns 20
Photos of Megumi are exhibited around Japan and abroad to call attention to the parents＊ persistent wish to rescue their daughter.
51勛圖厙 / EXPLAINER
Jun 11, 2020
The North Korean abduction issue in Japan: When will the waiting end?
The Japanese government officially claims 17 Japanese nationals were abducted, but adds that there could be more than 800 others.
51勛圖厙 / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 6, 2020
Shigeru Yokota＊s death a reminder that time is running out on abduction issue
Yokota＊s death is a blow to the families fighting to get their loved ones back, and the ＆top priority＊ issue might now be treated as a mere distraction amid the pandemic.
51勛圖厙 / FOCUS
Sep 18, 2019
Abe used Cabinet reshuffle to renew focus on North Korea abductions, but resolution remains out of reach
In last week＊s Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe replaced some of the key personnel responsible for handling the issue of North Korea＊s abductions of Japanese nationals 〞 again demonstrating his determination to resolve the decadeslong problem.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer＊s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ※seed§ that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ※Peak 1 amyloid beta,§ as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" 〞 an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi＊s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan＊s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

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