Why the White House for an issue that chiefly involves Japan and North Korea? To heighten Americans’ awareness of the fact that many abductees are still being held against their will.

Takashi Osawa, one of my cousins, is one of those abductees.  Strictly speaking, he is my mother’s cousin.  However, we were about the same age and thus were brought up like first cousins.  Our houses were close to each other’s and we often played together.  I still clearly remember our elementary school days when we made a tunnel in deep snow and threw snowballs.  Even after we grew up and left our hometown, we tried to reach each other every time we went home. 

In the winter of 1974, Takashi, at age 27, abruptly disappeared on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture in Japan where he was stationed with the Office of Prefectural Farmland.  The police and fire departments, as well as all his immediate family members and other relatives, searched for him in vain for many days.   We could not even locate his body.  Was he the victim of a crime?  An accident?  A suicide?   Several possible reasons for his disappearance were considered, but many years passed without any evidence.  His mother died believing he was still alive.  His family finally held a funeral.   In those days nobody had even heard of the term abduction.

Thirty years have passed since his disappearance, and it became the consensus of a nationwide organization of abduction victims’ families that many circumstantial evidence indicated Takashi had been abducted by North Korea.  Takashi’s family and relatives in his hometown have been desperately appealing for his rescue.   In the meantime, living in the U.S., I have always felt guilty that I haven’t done anything for Takashi. 

Recently, I heard about a Canadian couple, Patty Kim and Chris Sheridan, who were producing a movie, “ABDUCTION： The Megumi Yokota * Story” and trying to make Americans aware of the North Korean abduction issue.  I was impressed to know that they even used their own credit card to finance the movie.  I was even more impressed when I met with them.  I asked them frankly why they, not Japanese, could be so eager to explore the issue, even incurring personal debt.  They said it was simply a “human story” that should appeal to all people.  I felt they were considering it their mission. 

In the meantime, six-country talks by the U.S., Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea and Russia have been held on and off over the last few years.  However, the abduction issue has been considered minor and thus has seldom been included in the agendas of the talks.  My personal opinion is that the six-country talks are not for solving problems, but for confirming present conditions.  North Korea fears invasion by the U.S., and the U.S. fears recklessness by North Korea.  In addition, the six countries’ governments, not their people, want to keep the existing regime in North Korea.  I don’t think the Japanese government can reveal its own views, let alone carry them out, unless it obtains U.S. support.  Therefore, I hope the U.S. government will show its interest in the issue and steer the Japanese government in the right direction.  How can we spur on the U.S. government?  If only we could heighten the awareness of the American people….

Lastly, we are not simply praying for our family members and relatives to be freed from North Korea.  I think we need to include in our views not only hundreds of abduction victims, but also those hundreds of thousands of Korean Japanese who “went home” after World War II and now under hostage situation in North Korea.  Also we should not forget millions of North Koreans who are starving today.  We hear that more than three million people already died of starvation.  We need to make plans and decisions while considering both the past and the future.  If we can convey the abduction issue as a human story, as Patty and Chris do, to each individual regardless of ideology or nationality, I think we can move in the right direction to solve the issue. 

I hope to convey our message to the American people from the sidewalk in front of the White House from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 23.  I will be available for interviews and would appreciate your interest. I can be contacted at asanocpa@erols.com or (240) 631-2717 (home & office) or 301-461-4902 (cell).

Sincerely yours,

Izumi Asano

* Megumi Yokota, who was abducted at age 13, has been a symbol of the abduction issue.

Related web sites:

http://www.asanocpa.com/reach

http://trycomp.oc.to/THINK/

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/n_korea/abduction.pdf

http://www.safarimedia.net

PS: In recent years, North Korea has released some of the abductees, but not all of them.  Takashi’s father, at age 95, is still waiting for his son to return home as soon as possible.  We are afraid time is running out for the parents of many abductees.