Son of Japanese Abductee Calls for Mother’s Immediate Return

July 6, 2018

Tokyo- Koichiro Iizuka, the eldest son of Yaeko Taguchi, who was abducted by North Korean agents in 1978, when she was 22, has been calling for the immediate return of his mother.

Iizuka, 41, shares his goal with Taguchi's older brother, Shigeo Iizuka, 80, who has raised him as his father.

Taguchi's son started activities in public to resolve the abduction issue in February 2004, two years after five Japanese abductees returned to Japan. "I had expectations that things would get better soon," he told Jiji Press.

But with nearly 15 years having passed since then, he is disappointed with the Japanese government's response to the abduction issue.

"The government's non-serious attitude toward bringing the rest of the abductees back to Japan has helped, to some extent, leave Pyongyang's intent to forcibly close the issue intact," he criticized.

He calls Taguchi, who went missing when he was one year old, by her name, instead of mother. There are a few items, such as a photo of him and her, to show their relationship.

"I failed to feel she was my mother" even after hearing about her personality from former North Korean agent Kim Hyon Hui, who is believed to have been taught Japanese by Taguchi, he said.

"I feel more like I'm working to bring my (foster) father's sister home," he added.

Shigeo, who had served as chief of a group for the families of abduction victims for a long time, has been ill.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you," Shigeo said, looking pained, at a news conference in June after being asked what he would say to his kidnapped sister.

"I feel the same (as Shiego)," Iizuka said. "She can't do anything from her position."

"People in Japan have to rescue (her and the other abduction victims), but have been unable to do anything," he also said.

"I told (Shigeo) to conserve his strength to prepare for a critical moment that should come," he added, stressing that the abduction issue will be truly resolved only when victims and their families reunite while they are in good health.

"It's important to regain the time we should have had as a family, even just for a minute, or a second," he said. "So now is the time." Jiji Press