North Korean Human Rights
Abuses Awareness Week

Essay Competition 2022
Awarded essay

Towards the Immediate Rescue of All Abductees!

Hosted by the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, theGovernment of Japan. Supported by the Ministry of Justice,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Junior High School Category

1st Prize

Wishing to Hear Your Voice Saying “Iʼm Home!
YOSHIDA Kiara
7th grade, Narashino Municipal 5th Junior High School“Iʼm going to school now. Be back soon!” These were the last words from YOKOTA Megumi. It was
about 45 years ago, November 15th, 1977, when a 13-year -old girl became missing on her way home fromschool. The animated film “Megumi” and a theatrical company (Yasokai)ʼs play “The Pledge to Megumi”
gave me a chance to ponder about the North Korean abduction issue. After I learned that she was
abducted at my age and the shocking reality of the abduction issue, I could not no longer ignore it, as if itwere someone elseʼs problem. My heart ached from thinking about it. Megumiʼs happy life with herfamily and friends was suddenly stolen from her, and she was forced to live in North Korea. It washeartbreaking, and in the meantime I realized how I was privileged to be living a life with lots ofhappiness. The happiness of going to school every day, the happiness of eating warm food, and thehappiness of wearing clothes of my choice. The happiness of being granted to do these things. My life isfilled with freedom and happiness. I realized how all the little happiness that I have is actuallystupendously valuable. I cherish my ordinary life. This may be what I can do as a junior high school
student.
What else can we do, so that the issue of abduction wonʼt fade away from peopleʼs minds? In order topass the issue on to future generations, schools should give their chance to students to watch theanimation film on DVD at school. Take advantage of the Internet and disseminate the information on theissue throughout the world to let people learn about the issue. Also, continue to hold this essay
competition, so that future generations of Japan, like mine, will write essays and learn about the reality of
the issue. Moreover, we will pass what we learned to the next generation. I can do these things.
Human rights violations are not limited to the abduction issue. Sadly, many people in the world
experience them. Recently, I heard about prejudice and segregation against people with coronavirus
infections. Verbal abuse is also a human rights violation, and is so common. Any form of human rights
violation should not be allowed. Thus, I decided to watch myself and not to throw any harsh words at myfriends, peers, or family.
In the film “Megumi,” I found words that made a strong impression on me. Those were Megumiʼsmother, YOKOTA Sakieʼs words. “We donʼt resent or hate the ordinary people living in North Korea. We
only hope to bring back our daughter who is still held captive there.”
I was impressed by her being able to stay strong and say this while experiencing a very sad andunbearable situation.
Megumiʼs father, YOKOTA Shigeru, passed away 2 years ago, without seeing Megumi again. What
Megumiʼs family and people in Japan want to hear right now is the cheerful voice of Megumi, saying “Iʼmhome!” We are all truly waiting for that bright future to come.

Junior High School Category

2nd Prize

Putting Myself in the Victims Situations
KAWAKATSU Rise
9th grade, Nantan Municipal Sonobe Junior High School“Mom, Dad, Help me… Iʼm here…”
Over 45 years ago, in autumn, a girl who lived in Niigata prefecture was abducted on the way home after
her extracurricular activities. She was smuggled in a boat, and when she got off the boat, she was inNorth Korea. She couldnʼt see her family or friends and was threatened to be killed if she didnʼtcooperate. She dreamed of going home to Japan every day but tried hard to live in a country where nofamily or friends lived. In one day, her happy days ground to a halt, and she was alone standing in an
unknown place. She was not sure if she could be alive tomorrow.
“If I were Megumi…”
In a social science class, we watched “The Pledge to Megumi,” a movie about the abduction of YOKOTA
Megumi. She was just like me, a junior high school student living with her parents and brothers … All ofa sudden, she was a victim of abduction. She cried out for help in a boat being tossed by strong waves
until her voice became hoarse. This heartbreaking scene is still deep in my heart. I felt Megumiʼs pain as
if I were in the movie. She must have experienced an unbelievable level of fear and insecurity. Also,
Megumiʼs parents mustʼve felt inexpressible difficulty losing their daughter in one day and having been
told she had run away.
I knew about the issue. Now, I look back. I had many chances to learn about this human rights violation.
But…
“Right. Thatʼs a problem.”
I was definitely thinking the issue was irrelevant, that it was someone elseʼs problem. In the class, a
discussion I had with my classmates reminded me how I was thinking before. I was uninterested, andthat was terrible. This abduction issue has not been resolved, even today, which may be due to so many
people, who are also Japanese, avoiding and facing the true meaning of the issue like me.
In the class discussion, we had a theme, “know the true history and think about it yourself.” I feel that
this is what we, todayʼs junior high school students, are required to do.
The most critical point is that this issue has hit a wall and has been in the doldrums for a long time. As
a result, the effort to bring back the abductees is at a crucial point. The victims and their families are
growing older and losing energy to continue their campaigns, and the public is losing interest.
We should put ourselves in the shoes of the victims and their families. Instead of giving up because it is
an issue between governments, we should raise our antennas high up to be involved. I may realize how
helpless and insignificant I am as a junior high school student, but I will continue to learn the history andbecome a member of a society who is involved in the campaign, working to resolve the issue as soon as
possible.

Junior High School Category

2nd Prize

If I Were a Victim ‒ the North Korean Abduction Issue
UEDA Karin
7th grade, Tokai University Takanawadai Junior & Senior High School
I am an ordinary junior high school student. When Ms. YOKOTA Megumi was abducted by North
Korea, she was my age and in the same grade. I could not imagine what it would be like to be abductedjust when I started my junior high school life, getting used to the new routine, having new friends, andenjoying my school life. Itʼs just impossible for this to happen to me, leaving home for school saying “Iʼllbe home soon” for the last time.
Against my will, if some stranger takes me to a country I do not know, without telling me anything, if I
were to be taken away from my beloved family, it would be tremendously difficult. I may become
psychotic because my precious daily life had been destroyed.
I researched why North Korea abducted Japanese people like Megumi. It was thought that they planned
to make the abductees into spies who could falsely identify themselves as Japanese and to optimize theirskills by providing educators. Is that a good reason to destroy someoneʼs life? Not at all.
Everyone in the world is granted human rights when they are born. That is, to have rights to live theirown lives. This is stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. These rights, however,
have been violated and deprived from not only the abductees but also their families. Of course, the lives
and safety of abductees are important. But, we should know abducteesʼ families have been deprived of
freedom as well.
Most people at my age know very little about the North Korean abduction issue. Like how I was before,
most of their awareness is limited to something like, “some people were abducted by North Korea.” It issomeone elseʼs problem, not ours, because it is at the national level. I was given a chance to watch theanimated film “Megumi” through this event and realized I may be able to do three things to help resolve
the issue. The first is to participate in a petition and talk about the issue with friends. Since I watched thefilm on YouTube, I could easily watch it with my friends during recess, which can be done soon, too.
The second, I will try to avoid false information and learn more about the issue and apply what I learn in
my daily life. I live in a country that grants basic human rights, which makes the human rights issue all
the more important for me to learn. This act may direct me away from segregating or stereotyping
people in North Korea because they may be victims of human rights violations as well.
The third, I will continue to wish for the resolution of the abduction issue and for the familiesʼ smiles.
A junior high school student like me may only do so much, but I want to continue to do these things as I
grow up, and when I become a mother, I will tell my children about the issue of abducted Japanese.

High School Category

1st Prize

Everyone Has Human Rights
MATSUMOTO Yūmi
12th grade, Kansai Soka Senior High School
The YOKOTAs were a happy family until North Korea suddenly took away their ordinary lives. Theirtime has stopped since then.
Abduction is definitely unacceptable, and when such has happened, the abductee must have beenastonishingly scared and helpless. I have thought this way all the time, and when I thought about thefamilies who were left behind, I also thought that itʼs totally reasonable for them to hope for their familiesʼ
immediate return. On the other hand, I had a question. While the abductees spend many years in North
Korea, they form new relationships with North Koreans. Would the abductees really hope to come backto Japan?
After I learned more about the issue, my thoughts gradually changed. As I watched an animated film
and read documents on the issue, I felt ashamed of myself for how little I knew about the issue. I wasparticularly shocked by the fact that the abductees were forced to educate North Korean spies. How sadwere the families in Japan learning that their loved ones were forced to help out in some criminal act. In
an interview article of HASUIKEʼs, he said, “The only freedom I could have in North Korea was to thinkin my head. In order to protect myself, I said only what was safe for me to say and held my tongue
otherwise. I realized that North Korea was a country without individual human rights. As I learned thesefacts, I understood more, and my opinion had changed. The families of abductees mustʼve longed for theirfamiliesʼ return, and the abductees mustʼve longed to come back to Japan, where everyone is granted
human rights.”
I feel that many people are like me in thinking they know all about the issue. Actually, they have only
scratched the surface of the issue and only know that “some Japanese had been abducted by North
Korea and their families are working hard to bring their loved ones home.” Knowing some of the facts isdefinitely important because nothing will start if you have no idea. But that is not enough to solve theproblem. People should know that North Korea has committed state crimes, and their victims are frommany countries. Each one of the abductees have suddenly lost their precious livelihood in their own
countries and are forced to live in North Korea, where no human rights are granted. We ought tounderstand this threat to human rights, an essential aspect of peopleʼs lives, as an international problem.
In a few decades, the abductees and their families will not be here. North Koreaʼs human rights violations
definitely should not be regarded as something from the past and forgiven, even when all of them aregone. The abductees and their familiesʼ solitude, sorrow, agony, anger, and hope should be taken over by
us, and society should take actions to protect human rights for everyone.

High School Category

2nd Prize“Never Forget About the Victims”
SATO Hiyori
12th grade, Fukushima Prefectural Fukushima Meisei High School
This terrible incidence occurred suddenly. The fact that Megumi mustʼve only hoped to live an ordinaryhigh school life was taken away. She mustʼve felt devastated with lots of anger, sadness, and pain. Afterwatching the animated film, “Megumi,” I still hear Megumiʼs voice calling, “Mom!” and feel her pain, as if
it left a strong impression on me. If I were taken away from my family, if I could not see my loved ones,
would I have a reason to live in the world? Just by thinking these thoughts, my head aches, and chest
tightens.
We all have at least one very precious person in the world. You may not realize this, but someone issupporting you. Abduction is in no way a reasonable thing, no matter who the person abducted is in thisworld.
I became more aware of the responsibilities as a part of society. Before I took the class on “the North
Korean Abduction Issue,” I only had a vague idea about the issue. After that, I learned why it happened
and what happened between the 2 countries in the Korean peninsula and Japan. Since I became a highschool student, many things made more sense in the film I watched in the class. I feel that, as time goeson, more and more young people donʼt know about the issue, even though they have heard Megumiʼsname at some point. In my case, my parents knew about the issue very well, but my sisters (they are
1-year-younger and 7-years-younger than me) knew very little. Thus, we, high school students, have an
important role to summarize the issue in an easy-to-understand format for younger kids and disseminate
it through our various school events.
For this, we should acquire a deeper understanding of the issue, connect with as many people as possible
through the film, and take actions to raise public awareness. On the Internet, I have found possibilities
such as the Blue Ribbon movement for abduction victims, in addition to regular petitions. As a memberof the student counsel, I am a part of the “Citrus Ribbon Movement,” which aims to stop harmful rumors
about the prefecture caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake from spreading. I wear the ribbon
every time I participate in an interschool event. Students from other schools give comments to me, “Cuteribbon. What does it mean?” In return of my explanation of the ribbon, the other students advocate ouractivity and show interest in trying it out for themselves. In addition to the Citrus Ribbon Movement, I
will work for the Blue Ribbon movement to give a chance to students in my neighborhood elementary,junior, and senior high schools to learn about the North Korean abductions. My hope is that various
people will join the movement, which may become more powerful and influential and that it reaches
North Korea someday.

High School Category

2nd Prize

The First Step is to Heighten Your Awareness
NAKAGAWA Akari
10th grade, Kanagawa Prefectural Atsugi Higashi Senior High School
What is the North Korean abduction issue? News frequently picks up this issue, but I havenʼtreally paid attention. I was not born yet when it happened, and it didnʼt interest me. It wassomeone elseʼs business, not mine, until I watched an animated film, “Megumi.”
After I watched the film, I was scared and felt heartache, imagining if that happened to me.
Forty-five years ago, YOKOTA Megumi was abducted by North Korea. She was only 13 at thetime. In the midst of her teenage years, she was deprived of freedom and taken away from herfamily. Megumi was taken to North Korea by boat. Her voice crying out for her father andmother filled the entire boat. This scene left a strong impression on me. The whole story was
the heartbreaking truth, and I wished it were a fictional story. She was suddenly taken awayfrom her beloved family by a total stranger to be taken away to an unknown place. She mustʼvebeen scared to death. Her family of course mustʼve been desperate. I learned how ignorant I
was from this. In one day, a beloved daughter had disappeared. Probably, her parents wished itwasnʼt true, and it mustʼve been unbearable since they had no idea what had happened to theirdaughter at the time. Even after they learned of the possibility of abduction, they mustʼve felt
helpless since they were not allowed to go rescue Megumi. I imagine that they were ready to
do whatever they could to bring Megumi home.
I read a comic book “When My Mother was Kidnapped, I was Only a Year Old” by IIZUKA
Koichiro. His experience was a bit different from the family in the animated film. The victim in
this comic book was also abducted by North Korea, like Megumi, but became an educator for
North Koreans who were involved in crimes. When IIZUKA learned of his motherʼs abduction,
he had already grown up. He mustʼve had conflicting thoughts after learning of this. Although
Megumiʼs family reached out to society for support, he couldnʼt do so easily, which probably
made him regretful.
After I read the comic and watched the animated film, a question came to me. Why is thisissue still not resolved? Is North Korea that hard to deal with?
To tell you the truth, I have no good ideas on how to resolve the issue, which seems sounattainable. But, I will start by learning about it, which is important. If everyone heightens
their awareness on the issue, something may happen. Moreover, to not let this issue fade awayfrom peopleʼs minds, while the families of abductees grow older, the issue should be passed on
to the next generations.

English Essay Category

1st Prize

What we should do now?
TAKEUCHI Mayu
11th grade, Saijo High School
Remember a happy birthday party youʼve enjoyed with your family. Now, imagine that youʼll never see
your family again the day after that. This is exactly what Yokota Megumiʼs family experienced. 45 years
have passed since she was abducted by North Korean agents. According to a public opinion poll carriedout by the Cabinet Office in 2017, 85.3% of people in their sixties remained interested in the abduction
issue, compared to only 64.9% of young people. What should we teenagers do to solve the international
issue? I believe we should do two things: develop our knowledge of the issue and take action.
First, we must improve our knowledge. When I initially learned about the abduction issue in junior highschool, I realized what a gross violation of human rights Megumiʼs family had suffered. It opened my eyesto the injustice. Since then, Iʼve always asked myself what I can do to resolve this issue. Before writing
this essay, I watched the Japanese animation MEGUMI. There was a scene that left a deep impression on
me. Shigeru, Megumiʼs father was given a comb as a birthday present by Megumi on the day before theincident. For 42 years, Shigeru had always carried the gift in his breast pocket. At his funeral, Sakie,
Megumiʼs mother, did not put the comb in Shigeruʼs coffin. Instead, Sakie decided she would keep hold of
it, so if they were ever reunited, Megumi could see that her father had always been thinking of her. I feelstrongly that we young people should inherit the determination of Mr. and Mrs. Yokota. We need more
opportunities to learn about these struggles.
Second, we must take actions ourselves. So far, I have always shared what I learned in class with myfamily. My mother says that she remembers our talk about the abduction issue. Itʼs so important to share
our opinions with those around us and get them interested in human rights issues. Currently Iʼm a
member of a committee on human rights education. I hope to hold activities to educate the public during
North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week. I want to tell all the students at school aboutsome events, which are available on YouTube. Fortunately, after reading my ideas, my teacher promoted
my action and introduced the anime of MEGUMI in the school newsletter for students and parents. Iʼmsure that expressing our opinions will inspire others to take action, too.
In conclusion, this essay outlines two steps all young people can take: develop our knowledge of the issue
and take action. The most important thing in learning about human right issues is to never give up. I
want to increase opportunities for young people to learn by continuing to enlighten them. Moreover, I
hope they themselves will spread the knowledge they have learned. For this reason, I want to be a leader
who can constantly push myself to learn more. Iʼll continue to research the abduction issue and strive fora resolution.

English Essay Category

2nd Prize

Familiar Problems
SHIRAHAMA Masaaki
9th grade, Anan Municipal Fukui Junior High School
After I watched the Megumi video, I was curious why North Korea was abducting people and what was
happening to the people who were not returning. Thus, I researched it.
It turns out that the abductions conducted by North Korea were for the purpose of using Japanesepeople to train operatives and subjugate South Korea to the Northʼs view of “unity” in the Korean
Peninsula.
The video had an impressive scene featuring a figure of a person walking over a leaflet without evenpaying attention to it. It was shocking to those who sincerely hoped for Megumi return to Japan andbelieved in their campaign. However, not only had their papers been carelessly trampled, but it was as if
their own hearts had been crushed as well. It felt as though Japan was not even interested in theabduction issue taking place … and that was a huge problem. In order to solve important human rights
issue, there must be general interest and concern regarding those matters.
When I was in elementary school, I read a book written by Dr. King from the United States. He
confronted racism not with violence, but with protest. He appealed to many about the absurdities of
discrimination. Perhaps no better phrase captures his perspective than this particular one: “Weremember the silence of our friends, not the words of our enemies.” It is a reminder that those who
remain silent and overlook the suffering of others quietly stand with those who discriminate. I think thatitʼs very easy to avoid personal responsibility in situations like these because the problems often seem solarge. Itʼs simple to just assure ourselves that we are completely powerless. However, this mindset only
further torments victims and their families, as well as hinders any real progress towards ending suchheinous abduction crimes.
In order to resolve the abduction issue, we must first be willing acknowledge the reality of its existence.
We canʼt solve a problem if we simply keep stepping over it. Additionally, we must also be able toimagine what kind of days Megumi, her parents, other victims, and their families have faced. We must
work together and make great efforts to resolve this heartbreaking issue as soon as possible.

English Essay Category

2nd Prize

Now, it is our turn
MURAYAMA Kaho
10th grade, Takeda Junior & Senior High School“Mom! Mom!” In the pitch-dark, cold boat, Megumi Yokota cried and screamed for 40 hours, scratching
here and there in doorways and walls, and when she arrived in North Korea, her fingernails were almost
peeled off and she was covered in blood.
From the day she disappeared, her familyʼs life changed forever. At night, her father cried in the bathand her mother cried alone away from the family.
Could you bear it if your happiness is suddenly destroyed?
Could you bear it if your loved one suddenly disappear in this way?
I want you to take some time to think about this. If your sibling disappears without any trace, no one
had contact with you for ransom. You canʼt anything but wait for your sibling will come back. If I were in
the situation, I wouldnʼt know what to do. And I would feel hopeless to live.
Such as inhumane incident actually happened in Japan.
17 Japanese people, including Yokota Megumi, were abducted by North Korea. They abducted people not
only from Japan but also from several other countries and regions of the world. My heart ache thisunforgivable state- sponsored incident.
The perposes of the abduction were both the spy-training and the Japanese instruction for the agents.
North Korea acknowledged the abduction at the first Japan-North Korea summit and it was even after 25
years later after Megumiʼs abduction had occurred. It took so many years that this tragedy was shown tothe public.
The incident has not yet been resolved, and unfortunately due to aging, some family members havepassed away without ever seeing their abductees. What can we do achieve this? Japanese school should
dedicate a time to think about this abduction issue. Actually there is a special week “North Korean
Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week” in Japan, but in reallity few people, especially younger
generation know this week. How about providing a study time on the abduction issue at each school oncea year, such as peace studies? We should start with learning the background of North Korea why they
had abducted, including history. We also must ask the Japanese government to share the latest
information.
The abduction issue must never happen again, and we younger generation, must not give up and standup for a solution.