Abducted: Four Stories, Four Lives JAPAN Forward

They were ordinary people abducted from Japan by North Korea. One was Yaeko Taguchi, a young mother raising two children in Tokyo. She disappeared without a trace in 1978. The case came as a shock to Koichiro Iizuka, who learned of his mother's identity as a young adult. Yaeko's disappearance bore similarities to those of 13-year-old Megumi Yokota in episode 1, as well as the college student Kaoru Hasuike in episode 2. However, there were scant clues to explain what happened, as Journalist Masami Abe explained in episode 3. Yaeko's case only came to light in 1987, when convicted North Korean spy Kim Hyeon-hui confessed that she had been taught Japanese by a Japanese woman held in North Korea.















JAPAN Forward presents Episode 4 of "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives," a new podcast series that investigates the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea. 







Hosted by journalists Arielle Busetto and Agnes Tandler, these talks give listeners an insight into the lives of four different people who are forever changed by a series of terrible crimes. Their lives are later all linked together in unexpected ways. It is the first-ever podcast series dedicated to this topic. 















Join the Conversation







Join the conversation in this fourth and last podcast episode as JAPAN Forward traces the search for Yaeko and story of the son she left behind. And follow the series, "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives" on Apple Podcast. The announcement will be made on our Facebook, Instagram and X account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.







Former North Korean terrorist Kim Hyeon-hui meets Yaeko Taguchi's older brother Shigeo Iizuka and son Koichiro Iizuka on March 11, 2009 in South Korea. Earlier, Kim testified that she learned Japanese language and customs from Yaeko who was being held in North Korea.(© Sankei)







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* INTERVIEW | Kim Hyon-hui: North Korea Afraid of Secrets Coming Out if Abductees are Released* OBITUARY | Shigeo Iizuka, Leader of Families of Victims Abducted by North Korea: 1938-2021* New North Korea Abductees Policy Receives US Support in...

They were ordinary people abducted from Japan by North Korea. Like 13-year-old Megumi Yokota in episode 1. And the college student Kaoru Hasuike, who tells the story of his kidnapping in episode 2. Journalist Masami Abe was one of the first to look into the mysterious disappearances of young Japanese near beaches in Japan and link them back to North Korea. But because the crimes and their motives were so bizarre, it took two decades before his story finally gained traction. In this episode, Masami discusses a series of coincidences that finally brought the abduction cases to light.







JAPAN Forward presents Episode 3 of "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives," a new podcast series that investigates the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea. 







Hosted by journalists Arielle Busetto and Agnes Tandler, these talks give listeners an insight into the lives of four different people who are forever changed by a series of terrible crimes. Their lives are later all linked together in unexpected ways. It is the first-ever podcast series dedicated to this topic. 















Join the Conversation







Join the conversation in this third podcast episode as JAPAN Forward traces the events that unfolded in the search for Megumi. And follow the series, "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives" on Apple Podcast. The announcement will be made on our Facebook, Instagram and X account. Also, feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.







Masami Abe's January 7, 1980 Sankei Shimbun article reported on the case of Yasushi Chimura and the "Avec" abductions (left). Also on the right, Abe's February 3, 1991 front page article reported on the abduction of Megumi Yokota.







Listen to Episode 1: Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives, Episode 1: Just a Schoolgirl Taken by Martians







Listen to Episode 2: Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives, Episode 2:  Inside the Black Box







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* New Podcast Series: Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives* a href="https://japan-forward.com/new-north-korea-abductees-policy-receives-us-support-in-washington/" tar...

They were ordinary people abducted from Japan by North Korea. Like Kaoru Hasuike, a young student who was kidnapped while on an evening walk by the sea. Kaoru spent 24 years in North Korea. He was one of the lucky few who were allowed to return to Japan in 2002. To this day he feels conflicted.   







JAPAN Forward presents Episode 2 of "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives," a new podcast series that investigates the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea. 















Hosted by journalists Arielle Busetto and Agnes Tandler, these talks give listeners an insight into the lives of four different people who are forever changed by a series of terrible crimes. Their lives are later all linked together in unexpected ways. It is the first-ever podcast series dedicated to this topic. 















Join the Conversation







Join the conversation in this second podcast episode as JAPAN Forward traces the events that unfolded in the search for Megumi. And follow the series, "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives" on Apple Podcast. The announcement will be made on our Facebook, Instagram and X account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.







Five abductees return to Japan on October 15, 2002, including Kaoru Hasuike. None have returned since then. (©Sankei)







Listen to Episode 1: Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives, Episode 1: Just a Schoolgirl Taken by Martians







RELATED: 







* New Podcast Series: Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives * New North Korea Abductees Policy Receives US Support in Washington







Learn more about the abductions of Japanese and other foreigners through JAPAN Forward's special coverage of the issue.







Author: Agnes Tandler and Arielle Busetto

JAPAN Forward presents "Abducted, Four Stories, Four Lives." a new podcast series that investigates the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea. Hosted by journalists Arielle Busetto and Agnes Tandler, these talks give listeners an insight into the lives of four different people who are forever changed by a series of terrible crimes. Their lives are later all linked together in unexpected ways. It is the first-ever podcast series dedicated to this topic. 







One was Megumi Yokota, an ordinary 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped on her way home from school. Her brother, Takuya Yokota, was only 9 years old when his sister suddenly disappeared. He speaks about the trauma that befell his family and the fight to bring Megumi back. Her case, like that of many other victims, remains unsolved to this very day.   







"My mother got very worried when evening came and Megumi had not returned," remembers Takuya when he spoke to us." So she took us and we walked together" Nobody could explain why and how Megumi vanished.







Nobody had an explanation for why and how Megumi vanished. After all, she was just a child from a normal family. Despite searching high and low there was no sign of Megumi for years. There was also no trace of her badminton racket or the sports bag she had taken to school that day "We thought she was taken by Martians," one of Megumi's schoolmates told us. 















Megumi Yokota before her abduction. (© The Yokota family)







Join the Conversation







Join the conversation in this first podcast episode as JAPAN Forward traces the events that unfolded in the search for Megumi. And follow the series, "Abducted, Four Stories, Four Lives" on Apple Podcast. The announcement will be made on our Facebook, Instagram and X account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.







RELATED: 







* New Podcast Series: Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives* New North Korea Abductees Policy Receives US Support in Washington* Letters to Megumi: Children's Heartfelt Hopes Under the Cherry Blossoms







Author: Agnes Tandler and Arielle Busetto