Photo/Illutration Takuya Yokota, head of the association of abductees’ family members, speaks at a Nov. 26 rally in Tokyo calling for the prompt return of Japanese taken by North Korea. (Ryota Goto)

Family members of Japanese abducted by North Korea decades ago pressed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Nov. 26 to make progress on the immediate return of their missing loved ones.

Takuya Yokota, 55, who heads the association of abductees’ family members, spoke at the beginning of a rally held in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward, with Kishida in attendance.

He is the brother of Megumi Yokota, who was 13 when she was abducted in Niigata Prefecture in 1977.

Takuya brought up a May gathering of the association, where Kishida expressed his intention to arrange negotiations with Pyongyang “for high-level talks under his direct control.”

Such talks would lead toward the first Japan-North Korea summit since 2002, according to Kishida.

Takuya asked if the government has made substantial progress toward this end.

“We cannot tolerate stagnation,” Yokota said. “The abduction issue is an urgent human rights and humanitarian concern with time constraints.”

Kishida said at the rally, “It’s extremely important that I myself take the initiative in building a relationship between the leaders.”

Regarding a summit, he said: “We are constantly making approaches through various channels. We will further strengthen our efforts.”

A resolution was adopted at the rally demanding the Japanese and North Korean governments ensure the immediate and collective return of all abductees to their home country.

Megumi’s mother, Sakie, 87, expressed her desperation for the return of her daughter and other abductees.

“I feel like the abductees are saying, ‘Why aren’t you coming quickly to save us?’” she said. “Lives are on the line. Please bring them back home.”

Hitomi Soga, 64, who was abducted with her mother, Miyoshi, in 1978, also spoke about the issue of time at the rally.

Soga and four other Japanese were repatriated from North Korea in 2002. But the whereabouts of other abductees, including Miyoshi, remain unknown.

“I have not been able to see my mother for such a long time. Sometimes I wonder if I would even recognize her if she appeared in front of me now,” Soga said. “I am really ashamed and sad.”

On Nov. 1, Masao Kitano, a member of the association, died at the age of 72.

He was the second son of Shoji Terakoshi who went missing off the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan in 1963.

A moment of silence was observed at the rally to mourn his death.

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