Yokota Megumi turns 62; mother Sakie, 90, urges swift return from North Korea
In short
Yokota Megumi, abducted to North Korea at age 13, turned 62 on October 5. Her mother Sakie, now 90, told Jiji Press she feels frustration and anger that after nearly 50 years she still cannot hear her daughter's voice, and said the state's rescue of abducted citizens should be a matter of course. A charity concert marking Megumi's birthday has been held since 2010, and this year her classmates sang a song they had sung with her.
Why it matters
The Yokota case is the best-known of Japan's abductee cases, and Sakie Yokota's age — she is 90 — makes the family's calls for a resolution increasingly time-bound. The documents show the family continuing public appeals through concerts and interviews rather than reporting any change in the situation, so the coverage points to continued stalemate rather than movement.
Key facts
- Yokota Megumi, abducted to North Korea at 13, turned 62 on October 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Her mother, Sakie Yokota, is 90 years old. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Sakie Yokota said she feels frustration and anger that she still cannot hear her daughter's voice after nearly 50 years. [ 3 ]
- In a video message, Sakie Yokota asked for support so that many abductees can return to Japan this year. [ 1 ]
- A charity concert has been held since 2010 to coincide with Megumi Yokota's October 5 birthday; at this year's event her classmates sang “Tsubasa wo Kudasai,” a song they had sung with her at a choir competition. [ 1 ]
- Sakie Yokota said the family stopped preparing a birthday cake several years ago. [ 2 ]
- She said she speaks to a photograph of her husband, Shigeru, who died six years ago, asking him to watch over Megumi until she returns. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How many abductees the family and its supporters are seeking the return of in the current appeal. Document 1 refers to “many victims” in Sakie Yokota's video message but gives no number, and no other document addresses it.
- The venue, scale and attendance of the charity concert. Only document 1 covers the concert, and it does not state where in Niigata it was held or how many people took part.
- Current information on Megumi Yokota's condition or any diplomatic progress on her return. The documents report the family saying no information is visible and give no account of her situation or of any negotiations, leaving this explicitly unknown.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reports the charity concert held for Megumi Yokota's birthday, including her mother's video message and classmates singing “Tsubasa wo Kudasai.” [ 1 ]
- Jiji Press publishes an interview with Sakie Yokota, 90, ahead of her daughter's birthday. [ 2 ]
- NHK News reports that Megumi Yokota has turned 62, quoting her mother on her frustration and anger. [ 3 ]