Japan Pledges to Bring Home Woman Abducted 48 Years Ago

A mother who has waited 48 years for her daughter's return heard Japan's highest officials promise they won't give up the fight.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara met Monday with Sakie Yokota at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo. Her daughter Megumi was just 13 years old when she was abducted by North Korean agents in 1977.

"We will bring back all the abductees no matter what," Kihara told Sakie during their meeting. He serves as both Japan's top government spokesman and the minister in charge of the abduction issue.

Sakie expressed hope that 2025 will finally bring progress after nearly five decades of waiting. Her fight to bring Megumi home has become a symbol of Japan's efforts to resolve the North Korean abduction crisis that affected dozens of Japanese citizens.

The meeting showed just how seriously Japan's new leadership takes this issue. Masaki Ikeda, who leads a group of Megumi's former classmates, presented Kihara with signatures from 28,827 people demanding her early return.

Ikeda said he can see genuine commitment from both Kihara and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. "We want them to take steps strongly and immediately," he added.

Why This Inspires

Sakie Yokota is now in her late 80s, but her determination has never wavered. For nearly half a century, she has kept her daughter's story alive, turning personal tragedy into a national cause that continues to unite Japanese citizens across generations.

The petition with nearly 29,000 signatures proves that people still care deeply about bringing these families back together. Megumi's former classmates, now in their late 50s, remain active advocates for her return, showing that childhood friendships can fuel decades of hope and action.

Japan's government continues to prioritize this issue at the highest levels, refusing to let time erase the promise to bring every abductee home.