"I wanted to see you at a glance"-Shigeru Yokota The Last Days Not Known August 27, 13:47

A girl who shows a slightly shy expression towards the camera. Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea.

This photo was taken by his father, Shigeru, during his family trip the year before the incident.

“I want to see Megumi again”

Shigeru Yokota, who died in June this year without feeling that way. This picture was always displayed in the hospital room.

Two months have passed since my husband died. This month, my wife, Sakie, responded to an NHK solo interview.

Sakie Yokota
"Until I first met, I wanted to do my best. I couldn't even meet my only hope of seeing my daughter again. It's really cruel."

In an interview with Sakie, the figure of an unknown couple during hospitalization for more than two years was revealed. And I have strong feelings as parents of two people who spent their lives to rescue their daughter.
(Sayaka Noshu, reporter, Social Department)

"The symbol of the rescue movement" passes away

Megumi Yokota was kidnapped by North Korea in 1977, 43 years ago. It was when I was in the first year of middle school.

Shigeru has been at the forefront of the activity with Sakie as a “symbol of the abduction victim's rescue movement”, but he died in a hospital in June this year. I was 87 years old.

Sakie responded to the NHK interview on August 19th, two months after Shigeru's death.

Mr. Sakie
“My husband is really serious and honest. He has a very strong belief and has been fighting for 43 years with full pitch. Even after 2 years in the hospital, I didn't complain and always smiled. It was.''

20 years have passed since Megumi suddenly disappeared.

When they were told that they were in North Korea, the two formed a family association for the abductees with other families, and Shigeru became the representative.

Mr. and Mrs. Yokota, who traveled to all prefectures and signed up and gave over 1,400 lectures.

The schedule was tightly written in Shigeru's notebook. He said he never refused to give a lecture.

In order to connect "longer than 1 second"

However, since 2017, three years ago, Shigeru's legs have rapidly declined, and he has become stuck in conversation.

The last time I appeared in public was the press conference held on November 15 of that year, at the 40th anniversary of the abduction of Megumi.

In April of the following year, I got sick and went to the hospital. I will be hospitalized as it is.

In this interview, Ms. Sakie revealed that after she was hospitalized, she stopped eating after passing through the throat, and as a result of discussions with her family, she decided to undergo a "stomach fistula" operation in which a tube feeds the stomach directly. It was

"I need to earn time as long as I can not resolve the abduction problem" "I want to live for as long as 1 second"

By connecting my life, I want to somehow realize the reunion of parents and children did.

Sakie:
“Believing that Megumi will come back, I thought, “I will do my best until I see him anyway.” The hospital told me that I would not be able to stay forever, so at that time Until then, I wanted to do what I could.''

Continuing to support my husband in bed

Since Shigeru was hospitalized, Sakie has been visiting the hospital every day.

Shigeru was difficult to walk alone. It was said that it was days when he pushed wheelchairs and took a walk, and massaged Shige's limbs to prevent them from getting stiff.

It may have been a relaxing time for the couple, who had struggled for the rescue of their daughters for many years, after a long absence from the water.

On the other hand, Shigeru continued to be interested in news related to the abduction issue, even when he was in the hospital bed.

For example, the first ever US-North Korea summit meeting two months after being hospitalized.

The two were watching the news on TV in the hospital room.

Sakie:
“When US President Trump talked to North Korean President Kim Jung Eun about the abduction issue,” he nodded, “Yeah, yeah”. I think I knew exactly."

3 pictures in the hospital room

During this interview, Sakie told us that Shigeru-san's room had three pictures.

Two of them are Megumi's photos taken by Shigeru who was a hobbyist of the camera.

One of the smiles at the elementary school sports day.

The other is the one that I introduced at the beginning, one year before my abduction, that I visited with my family.

And the third one is a photo of North Korea in 2004, who became an adult and grew up.

Sakie
“Before I was hospitalized, I looked at this photo and talked with them, “I was growing up so vigorously” “I believe it is growing so much

.” “ My husband will always think of his daughter, so I put a picture of Megumi with a smile on her face to make me feel nostalgic.I and my sons said, "I want to see Megumi-chan." When I put it on, I said, "Yes, that's right."

A letter entrusted to Corona

Ms. Sakie who has spent days going to the hospital. But this spring, I can't do that.

The visit was banned due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

For a month or so when she couldn't meet, Sakie continued encouraging Shigeru by entrusting her nurse with a short letter and her drawing of a flower.

It is said that Shigeru's weakness had progressed when the declaration of emergency was lifted and he met for the first time in a long time.

Sakie:
“When I talked to him, he seemed to be conscious and understood. Still, he thought, “I can't speak even if I try to talk to myself, so I may be irritated.” I said “OK. I massaged my legs while saying, "I can only do that."

"I can finally rest" "I don't feel tragic"

And June 5th. The hospital contacted Shigeru-san, who was not feeling well, and the family gathered.

Ms. Sakie, who was encouraged by a nurse to speak out loud. He says he called out. "I'm going to heaven, be fine." "I'll be going someday, so please be sure to wait, don't forget."

Sakie
“My husband has been working hard so far. I also sent out that I don't have to worry because I have sons,” as for getting my daughter back. It was a great farewell, but a tragic feeling No, I think my husband, who has been patient and struggling so hard, is finally resting."

Two months have passed since Shigeru died. Sakie says that even now, when she suddenly notices, she may line up at a bus stop heading to the hospital where Shigeru was hospitalized.

Sakie
“I think I'm not even going to the hospital,” which makes me a little lonely, but I try my best not to be dragged into the loneliness. At home, my husband smiled and smiled. So I'm talking to you, "Good morning, dad," "I'm fine."

"The power of politics is tested"

Sakie, who has been fighting with her husband and wife on three legs, turned 84 years old.

A victim's family who is aging. Of the abduction victims recognized by the government, the only twelve parents whose safety is unknown are Sankei and Keiko Arimoto's father, Akihiro.

It has been 43 years since Megumi was abducted. The thing that impressed me strongly in this interview was Sakie's words, “It's already time for the family to appeal to the public.”

SakiKo's
"husband, also already deceased victim family, had believed the reunion with immediate family. That, did not compete even of only one hope. It is really cruel story"

"We, for 43 years, I've done everything I can to get my daughter back, I'll do my best until I fall, but I don't really need to do that. The political power is being tested. I hope that all the victims will return to Japan as soon as possible.''

I don't have time anymore

The families of the abductees have longed for "I want to hug my daughter with my hands" and "I want to recover my lost everyday life".

While the time left is getting shorter, there are more and more cases where people are complaining recently, "I want to see you at a glance."

The Abe administration has continued to settle the abduction issue as a top priority.

How to respond to the victims family's wishes. There is no time left.

Social Department Reporter
Sayaka Noshu