Junior high school students listen to Takuya Yokota speak at the "Junior High School Summit" on North Korean abductions issue on August 8, Taito Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Yuki Kajiyama).
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On August 8th, Tokyo's Headquarters for the Abductions Issue hosted the third "Junior High School Student Summit," bringing together students from across Japan to discuss the North Korean abductions issue.
Launched by the Japanese government in 2023, this initiative aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the topic among young people.
A total of 67 students participated. They were each recommended by education boards from prefectures and designated cities around the country.
A Brother's Call for Awareness
At the start of the event, Takuya Yokota, younger brother of abduction victim Megumi Yokota (now 60, abducted at age 13), delivered a speech. He is now the principal representative of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea.
Yokota emphasized that "the abductions issue is not a matter of the past, but an ongoing human rights concern."
He also shared personal stories about Megumi's cheerful nature and their childhood together. Then, he recounted how, in 1977, his sister was abducted by North Korean agents who had slipped into Niigata City. Later, from one of the suspects, they learned that the agents boarded Megumi onto a ship bound for North Korea, while she cried out all the way, "I want to go home."
"For 47 years, she has been unable to communicate with her family, receive an education, or pursue her dreams. I want people to truly grasp just how long that time has been," Yokota said.
Young Voices Spark Change
At the summit, students brainstormed ideas for educational videos on the abductions issue and brought their concepts to life through short plays. The government plans to produce videos based on the best ideas and release them online in December.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who also oversees the abductions issue, expressed hope at the event. "The messages conveyed by young people like you will become powerful voices that resonate with adults," he said.
RELATED:
- Passing the Baton in the Abductions Issue
- Megumi's Mother Speaks: A Long Battle for Justice and Hope
- Abductions Issue the 'Most Critical Challenge' Says New Chief Cabinet Secretary at Tokyo Symposium
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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