"Cruel without any hope" Sakie Yokota, single interview, August 19 19:38

Ms. Megumi Yokota's mother, Sakie (84), who was abducted by North Korea, responded to an independent interview with NHK on 19th about her husband Shigeru, who died in June this year. It's really cruel without even one hope to meet," he urged the government once again to bring all the abductees back home as soon as possible.

Megumi Yokota's father Shigeru, along with his wife Sakie, has been at the forefront of activities as a "symbol of the rescue movement for abductees", but he died at the age of 87 this June.

Sakie has refrained from publicly active activities these days, but responded to an independent interview with NHK on the 19th that it is important to send herself to solve the abduction issue.

In this, Sakie revealed that she was no longer able to eat after Shigeru's illness became ill and hospitalized. , I wanted to do my best until I met him at first sight."

Also, when he could not meet due to the spread of the new coronavirus, he entrusted nurses with short letters and flower paintings drawn by himself and sent them to Shigeru.

However, Shigeru died shortly after the declaration of emergency was lifted and he was able to visit again.

Sakie said, "I want to see Megumi-chan while looking at the picture." My husband said, "Yes, that's right." I believed that I could meet my daughter while I was alive. But it's really cruel, even with just one hope."

Among the abduction victims recognized by the government, 12 parents whose safety was not known died Kayoko Arimoto's mother, Kayoko, in February this year, without reuniting with her child. Even after the Japan-North Korea summit meeting in 2002, there are eight people including Shigeru.

Even today, there are only two people alive, Sakie and Keiko Arimoto's father, Akihiro (92).

Sakie says, "I will do my best until I fall, but I can't stay well and I think it's time for my family to appeal to the public. For the parents of all the victims who died without seeing their children, the government I want you to fulfill your responsibilities."

Mr. Shigeru Yokota, the days of life

Mr. Shigeru Yokota's legs and waist rapidly declined from 2017, three years ago, and he is now stuck in conversation.

It was the last press conference that appeared in public on November 15th of that year, at the 40th anniversary of Megumi's abduction.

Shigeru, who was 45 when the daughter was abducted, was 85.

In April of the following year, he was ill and hospitalized. After the meal stopped passing through my throat and after discussions with my family, I decided to perform a "stomach fistula" operation in which the tube feeds the stomach directly.

Shige-san seemed to have an occasional expression of not being able to eat, so Sakie visited the hospital by bus every day and visited him.

It became difficult for Shigeru to stand on his own, and it was a day when Sakie pushed a wheelchair and took a walk on the premises of the hospital and massaged Shigeru's limb joints so as not to become stiff. is.

Hospitalized life for over two years. It was three pictures of Megumi who were always displayed in the hospital room.

One is Megumi, who has an impressive dimple photographed by Shigeru during the athletic meet for 4th grade elementary school students.

The second photo is from Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, which was the last family trip before the abduction.

And a picture of adult Shigetami who was released by North Korea in 2004.

In the hospital bed surrounded by Megumi's smile, Sakie said, "I'll do my best because I may be able to see you soon."

However, Shigeru who had difficulty getting nutrition even with "stomach wax" since entering this year.

Instead, I was supposed to connect my life with an intravenous drip, but there were days when my consciousness became cloudy, and it was a situation where I was going away.

In addition, the spread of the new coronavirus makes it difficult for Mr. Sakie to visit the hospital.

After late May, when the emergency declaration was lifted, I was able to meet again, but shortly thereafter, Shigeru quietly breathed in while being watched by Mr. Sakie and his family, and Mr. Megumi in the photo. I took over.