{
  "id": 12054978,
  "title": "On daughter’s birthday, mother of abductee Megumi Yokota prays for reunion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/on-daughters-birthday-mother-of-abductee-megumi-yokota-prays-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T02:37:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/05/japan/north-korea-abductee-megumi-yokota-birthday/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Megumi Yokota, a Japanese national abducted to North Korea at the age of 13 in 1977, is now 62 years old. Her mother, Sakie Yokota, 90, continues to pray for her daughter's safe return. For the past 50 years, there has been no information about Megumi's whereabouts. Sakie had been making a birthday cake for her daughter every year, but stopped doing so a few years ago, as it became too painful to do so. The mother talks to a portrait of her late husband, Shigeru Yokota, every day, asking him to watch over them until Megumi returns. Despite her advanced age, Sakie continues her efforts to bring her daughter home, urging the government to take action. She called for the early resolution of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea decades ago. Megumi was abducted on November 15, 1977, while returning from junior high school in Niigata. Her classmates held a charity concert in Niigata on Saturday, hoping for her homecoming. In a video message, Sakie expressed her hope that the concert would help bring more abduction victims back to Japan. The concert, the 16th of its kind, featured performances by classmates and former teachers. Sakie's brother, Tetsuya Yokota, 58, expressed his trust in the current government and hopes for positive results. The charity concert was well-attended, with about 420 visitors.",
  "summary": "Sakie Yokota had prepared a birthday cake for her daughter every year, but she stopped a few years ago as it was \"painful.\"",
  "key_points": [
    "Megumi Yokota abducted at 13 in 1977, now 62",
    "Sakie Yokota, 90, prays for daughter's return daily",
    "Charity concert on daughter's birthday aims for reunion"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The enduring efforts of Megumi Yokota's mother, Sakie, to secure her daughter's return highlight the ongoing plight of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea decades ago and the family's dwindling hopes.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}