Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea 45 years ago when she was in her first year of junior high school, celebrated her 58th birthday on the 5th of this month. Mr. Sakie appealed, "I hope the day will come as soon as possible when we can meet again and be happy together as a family."

Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea from Niigata Prefecture in 1977 at the age of 13, will celebrate her 58th birthday on the 5th of this month.



One day before his birthday, a gathering was held in Kawasaki City with his family attending, and his mother Sakie (86) said, ``Megumi disappeared like smoke on the way home from school, but North Korea. I think I'm spending my days clenching my teeth and hoping to see everyone soon."



On top of that, she touched on her husband Shigeru, who died two years ago at the age of 87, saying, "Megumi-chan said, 'I'm back, mom,' and returned to Japan in good spirits, and the day when the whole family could be happy together in front of her father's grave. I want you to come as soon as possible."



In addition, Megumi's younger brother Takuya (54) said, "During this time, people such as my father who kept saying 'I want to see the victim at a glance' passed away one after another. I would like North Korea to recognize that the abduction issue must be fully resolved while the generation is still healthy, and I would like Prime Minister Kishida to send out the message that ``If the abduction issue is resolved, both Japan and North Korea can draw a bright future.'' I asked.

At a press conference after the gathering, her mother Sakie said, "When Megumi was in elementary school, her friends would come to her house on her birthday and eat chirashizushi and cake. I can only remember what she looked like.My family has been patient and appealing for 45 years, so I want the Japanese government to take action to bring back the victims."