Families of Abductees Relaunch Petition Drive After 12 Years

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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)*

Pushing for Rescue by Year's End

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.

Public Voices Their Support

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)*

'If We Give Up, It's Over'

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

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