Abductions of Japanese Citizens by North Korea
Abductions of Japanese Citizens by North Korea
www.rachi.go.jp
Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Government of Japan
Top page > Campaigns Involving Private Citizens
People in Japan and abroad have joined efforts to have the abductees returned to Japan and resolve this issue. Here are some examples of their efforts.
Family members of people abducted by North Korea keep waging campaigns to have their loved ones returned to them.
The Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by 
North Korea (known as the Association of Families) was formed in 1997 by family members. The families have enjoyed the full support of the Japanese people, and the Association has organized a number of campaigns calling for the return of the abductees.
More than 7,700,000 people have signed a petition that has been submitted to the Prime Minister of Japan.
![Figure: Movie [Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story]](images/megumi_poster_s.jpg)
The documentary film, Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story, was directed by Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim, and released in 2006.
The film tells the story of Ms. Yokota’s abduction by North Korea, and follows her parents, Shigeru and Sakie, as they campaign for her release. The film has been shown worldwide, and continues to be viewed.
Noel Paul Stookey of the American folk song group Peter, Paul and Mary wrote the lyrics and music for Song for Megumi, and dedicated it to the abductee, Megumi Yokota. Stookey played the song at the Prime Minister’s Residence for Megumi’s parents, Shigeru and Sakie Yokota, and for other guests assembled there, on February 20, 2007.
Citizen campaigns calling for the release of the abductees have adopted blue ribbons and the color blue as symbols.
The color blue represents the Sea of Japan, which lies between the abductees’ homeland of Japan and North Korea. It also represents the color of the sky, which is the only physical link between the abductees and their families.
