A Japanese citizen, who was abducted by North Korea in her early life and was repatriated many years later, has made a fresh call for the early return of other abductees.
Soga Hitomi delivered a speech to about 600 people in an event that took place in Tokyo on Wednesday.
She was abducted along with her mother Miyoshi on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, in the Sea of Japan in August 1978. She was repatriated in 2002, but her mother remains unaccounted for.
During the speech, Soga shared her ordeal in North Korea and her feelings about her mother, who will turn 94 years old in December.
She also spoke about Arimoto Akihiro, who died without reuniting with his abducted daughter Keiko. He was 96 years old.
Soga said she was deeply shocked by his death, because every time she saw Arimoto working actively, she held hope that her mother is also alive and well. He was about the same age as her mother.
She referred to another abductee, Yokota Megumi, with whom she once spent time in North Korea.
Soga said she and Yokota both missed Japan. She said they shared the same feelings about always exploring ways to return to their home country.
Soga said her wish is for all the victims to be brought back to Japan. She appealed to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and other government officials to arrange a summit meeting with North Korea at an early date to address the issue.
The Japanese government says at least 17 Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s. Five were repatriated in 2002, but the other 12 still remain unaccounted for.
After Arimoto's death, Yokota Megumi's 89-year-old mother, Sakie, is the only parent still alive among families that suffered abduction.
----------------
Quiz 1:
Who was the speaker at the event in Tokyo on August 27, 2025?
A. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru
B. Soga Hitomi
C. Miyoshi (Soga's mother)
D. Arimoto Akihiro
Quiz 2:
In which prefecture was Soga Hitomi abducted along with her mother?
A. Tokyo Prefecture
B. Niigata Prefecture
C. Hokkaido Prefecture
D. Okinawa Prefecture
Quiz 3:
What is the current status of Soga Hitomi's mother, Miyoshi?
A. Repatriated in 2002
B. Missing and unaccounted for since 1978
C. Deceased
D. Residing in North Korea
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3: B
Soga Hitomi delivered a speech to about 600 people in an event that took place in Tokyo on Wednesday.
She was abducted along with her mother Miyoshi on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, in the Sea of Japan in August 1978. She was repatriated in 2002, but her mother remains unaccounted for.
During the speech, Soga shared her ordeal in North Korea and her feelings about her mother, who will turn 94 years old in December.
She also spoke about Arimoto Akihiro, who died without reuniting with his abducted daughter Keiko. He was 96 years old.
Soga said she was deeply shocked by his death, because every time she saw Arimoto working actively, she held hope that her mother is also alive and well. He was about the same age as her mother.
She referred to another abductee, Yokota Megumi, with whom she once spent time in North Korea.
Soga said she and Yokota both missed Japan. She said they shared the same feelings about always exploring ways to return to their home country.
Soga said her wish is for all the victims to be brought back to Japan. She appealed to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and other government officials to arrange a summit meeting with North Korea at an early date to address the issue.
The Japanese government says at least 17 Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s. Five were repatriated in 2002, but the other 12 still remain unaccounted for.
After Arimoto's death, Yokota Megumi's 89-year-old mother, Sakie, is the only parent still alive among families that suffered abduction.
----------------
Quiz 1:
Who was the speaker at the event in Tokyo on August 27, 2025?
A. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru
B. Soga Hitomi
C. Miyoshi (Soga's mother)
D. Arimoto Akihiro
Quiz 2:
In which prefecture was Soga Hitomi abducted along with her mother?
A. Tokyo Prefecture
B. Niigata Prefecture
C. Hokkaido Prefecture
D. Okinawa Prefecture
Quiz 3:
What is the current status of Soga Hitomi's mother, Miyoshi?
A. Repatriated in 2002
B. Missing and unaccounted for since 1978
C. Deceased
D. Residing in North Korea
[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3: B
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Summary
Japanese abductee Soga Hitomi, who was repatriated in 2002 but lost her mother during abduction, spoke at an event in Tokyo. She shared her ordeal and feelings about her missing mother, who is now 94. She also mentioned the death of Akihiro Arimoto, whose daughter Keiko remains in North Korea.
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ID: 1c6aee1f-d54d-49ee-8b34-d9452d03f0fb
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250827_18/
Date: Aug. 27, 2025
Created: 2025/08/28 07:02
Updated: 2025/12/08 02:40
Last Read: 2025/08/29 08:09