It's been five days since Megumi Yokota's father, Shigeru, who was abducted by North Korea when she was in the first year of junior high school, died.


In Niigata City, Megumi's middle school classmates gathered at her alma mater and sang a memorable song to surpass Shigeru.

Megumi Yokota's father, Shigeru, died on June 5, last year, at the age of 87.



On the 5th, one year after his death, nine people, including Megumi's junior high school classmates, gathered at his alma mater's Yorii Junior High School in Chuo-ku, Niigata City.



Then, at the time when Shigeru died, he sang "Please give me wings," which Megumi once sang at a school competition, and surpassed Shigeru.

The venue was connected online with Megumi's mother Sakie (85) and her younger brother Tetsuya, and when she heard the chorus, Sakie said, "My husband had a very cruel life, but the abduction issue was raised to the public. I think it was a tough job to get them to understand. Megumi is a child who always loves singing loudly, and when she listens to the song, she feels sad, but her tears die and her sadness deepens. I'm waving and imagining the song coming down from Tarap, and I'm praying that it will happen. "

In addition, his younger brother Tetsuya said, "There may be a reality that the new corona will not make progress, but there must be a way to create a situation where North Korea has no choice but to approach Japan. Sovereignty. As a nation, I think it's all about producing results. I want to tell my father, "My sister is back," and I hope that the day will come when my sister will hand over the bones. "



Masaki Ikeda, a classmate of Megumi who held the gathering on the 5th, said, "We have wanted to see Megumi again since we were children, and our parents should want to see him sooner. I want you to come back tomorrow. "

Megumi Yokota abducted at the age of 13

Megumi Yokota lost her whereabouts on her way home from junior high school in Niigata City after practicing badminton in November 1977.



13 years old at that time.

I was in the first year of junior high school.


After that, the whereabouts were completely unknown, and it was almost 20 years ago in 1997 that the information that he was abducted by North Korea was provided.



Five years later, in September 2002, at the Japan-North Korea summit meeting held by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, he explained that while North Korea admitted the abduction, "Megumi died." ..



However, there are many contradictions and mistakes in the explanation, and the DNA of another person was detected in the ashes that North Korea issued as "own" at the time of the 2004 Japan-North Korea working-level talks.



In addition, the age of the person listed in the document called "Megumi's medical record" shown by North Korea was different from the age of Megumi at that time.



The government has called for the early return of Megumi and other abductees, saying that North Korea's explanation is unreliable.



Megumi will celebrate her 57th birthday in October this year.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato "I will do my best to return to Japan"

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato, who also serves as the Minister for the Abduction Issue, also participated online.



Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato said, "The strong feeling that the abduction issue must be resolved is shared by the people because Shigeru devoted his whole body to the rescue operation. Reunion with Megumi Shigeru died without realizing it, and I feel very sorry for myself. "



On top of that, "The abduction issue is the most important issue in the Suga Cabinet. With the thoughts of Chiaki every day, the thoughts of family members and related parties who are waiting for the victims to return home are remembered, and all the abductees can return home as soon as possible. We will do our best to ensure that we do not miss any chances. "