A charity concert was held in Niigata City on the Sea of Japan coast on Saturday for Yokota Megumi, who was abducted by North Korean agents when she was a 13-year-old junior high school student in 1977.

Her elementary school and junior high school classmates hold the event every year in their hometown.

In a video message, Megumi's mother, Sakie, said that despite the mental and physical challenges, she is persevering.

She said seeing the classmates helps her to imagine how Megumi has grown up and to believe that she is well.

Megumi's younger brother, Tetsuya, told her classmates that he regrets the concert did not turn out to be a welcome back event again this year.

He said the government cannot turn its back if everyone acts together. He called on the participants to closely monitor the developments in relations between Japan and North Korea.

Soga Hitomi, who was also abducted and spent time with Megumi in North Korea before returning to Japan, said she wanted Sakie to stay well, so that she may be reunited with Megumi.

After Megumi's former classmate and violinist Yoshida Naoya gave a performance, the participants sang songs, in hopes that they will be reunited with Megumi, who turned 59 on Thursday.