A gathering featuring musical performances was held on Friday to pray for the early return of Yokota Megumi, who was abducted by North Korean agents exactly 47 years ago.

The event was held at Niigata Elementary School, where Megumi graduated from.

Higuchi Nana, a student of Yorii Junior High School, played a song she wrote herself. She said she wants people to imagine the suffering of the victims and their families.

Megumi was abducted when she was a first-year student of Yorii Junior High. Both schools are located in Niigata City on the Sea of Japan coast.

Megumi's former classmates, Yoshida Naoya and Ikeda Masaki, performed "Spring" from Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" in the hope that she can see spring in Japan again.

A sixth-grade student read out a message saying that she would "feel crushed if her family members or friends were abducted."

She said she genuinely hopes Megumi will be reunited with her family as soon as possible.

The participants sang the song that Megumi and her classmates once performed at a school chorus competition.

Joining via phone, Megumi's mother Yokota Sakie thanked the participants for remembering her daughter and calling for her return.

Yokota said she wants Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to do all he can to bring back the abductees.

After the event, one girl said their rendition of the song must have reached Megumi and people across Japan.

Violinist Yoshida said Megumi and those close to her have been suffering for 47 years, and the situation must change.