Wishing to Hear Your Voice Saying “I’m Home!

YOSHIDA Kiara
7th grade, Narashino Municipal 5th Junior High School

“I’m going to school now. Be back soon!” These were the last words from YOKOTA, Megumi. It was about 45 years ago, November 15th 1977, when a 13-year -old girl became missing on her way home from school. The animated film “Megumi” and a theatrical company (Yasokai)’s play “The Pledge to Megumi” gave me a chance to ponder about the North Korean abduction issue. After I learned that she was abducted at my age and the shocking reality of the abduction issue, I could not no longer ignore it, as if it were someone else’s problem. My heart ached from thinking about it. Megumi’s happy life with her family and friends was suddenly stolen from her, and she was forced to live in North Korea. It was heartbreaking, and in the meantime I realized how I was privileged to be living a life with lots of happiness. The happiness of going to school every day, the happiness of eating warm food, and the happiness of wearing clothes of my choice. The happiness of being granted to do these things. My life is filled with freedom and happiness. I realized how all the little happinesses that I have are actually stupendously valuable. I cherish my ordinary life. This may be what I can do as a junior high school student.

What else can we do so that the issue of abduction won’t fade away from people’s minds? In order to pass the issue on to future generations, schools should give their chance to students to watch the animation film on DVD at school. Take advantage of the Internet and disseminate the information on the issue throughout the world to let people learn about the issue. Also, continue to hold this essay competition, so that future generations of Japan, like mine, will write essays and learn about the reality of the issue. Moreover, we will pass what we learned to the next generation. I can do these things.

Human rights violations are not limited to the abduction issue. Sadly, many people in the world experience them. Recently, I heard about prejudice and segregation against people with coronavirus infections. Verbal abuse is also a human rights violation, and is so common. Any form of human rights violation should not be allowed. Thus, I decided to watch myself and not to throw any harsh words at my friends, peers, or family.

In the film “Megumi,” I found words that made a strong impression on me. Those were Megumi’s mother, YOKOTA, Sakie’s words. “We don’t resent or hate the ordinary people living in North Korea. We only hope to bring back our daughter who is still held captive there.”
I was impressed by her being able to stay strong and say this while experiencing a very sad and unbearable situation.

Megumi’s father, YOKOTA, Shigeru, passed away 2 years ago, without seeing Megumi again. What Megumi’s family and people in Japan want to hear right now is the cheerful voice of Megumi, saying “I’m home!” We are all truly waiting for that bright future to come.