# Tokyo Rally Demands Immediate Return of North Korean Abductees Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi joins families calling for the resolution of decades-old abductions. - **Source:** [The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e19a4673-17bb-460c-8c0c-fd1402ad7e6f ## Tokyo Rally Demands Action Approximately 800 people gathered in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Sunday to demand the immediate return of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the national rally, emphasizing the government's commitment to resolving this long-standing issue. The event highlighted the urgency of securing the victims' release before aging families pass away. ## Decades of Unresolved Grief Takuya Yokota, brother of Megumi Yokota who was abducted in 1977, urged the public to maintain their determination. Megumi was only 13 when she was taken, and her family has spent nearly 50 years fighting for her return. The rally serves as a platform for families to voice their ongoing, profound personal suffering. ## The Last Remaining Parent Sakie Yokota, the 90-year-old mother of Megumi, remains the only parent among government-recognized abductee families still waiting for their children. She expressed deep sorrow over the nearly five-decade separation. Her presence underscores the critical time pressure facing these families, as the generation of parents who lost their children is rapidly dwindling. ## Generational Impact of Abductions Koichiro Iizuka, son of abductee Yaeko Taguchi, highlighted the painful milestone approaching in the new year. Taguchi was kidnapped in 1978 at age 22, and Iizuka stated he cannot accept the situation stretching into a 50th year. His testimony reflects the intergenerational trauma caused by these state-sponsored kidnappings that remain unresolved today. ## Prime Minister's Official Pledge Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed regret that the victims have not yet returned home. She declared her determination to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough during her tenure, framing the return of abductees as a primary mission. Takaichi promised that her efforts will continue until families are finally reunited with their long-lost loved ones. ## Resolution for Immediate Return The rally officially adopted a resolution calling on North Korea to return all abducted Japanese citizens immediately. Organizers emphasized the necessity of action while the parents' generation is still alive to witness the outcome. This formal demand serves as a unified message from the Japanese public to the North Korean leadership. ## Historical Context of Abductions The abduction issue has remained a central point of contention in Japan-North Korea relations for nearly half a century. Despite various diplomatic efforts over the decades, the return of recognized victims has stalled, leaving families in a state of perpetual uncertainty. The government continues to categorize this as a critical human rights violation. ## Diplomatic and Social Implications The persistence of the abduction issue continues to influence Japan's foreign policy and domestic political discourse. By keeping the topic in the public eye, families and officials aim to prevent the issue from fading into historical obscurity. The rally demonstrates the sustained pressure on the administration to prioritize this humanitarian crisis above others. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/11/08/japan/north-korea-abductees-rally/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._