“Never Forget About the Victims”

SATO Hiyori
12th grade, Fukushima Prefectural Fukushima Meisei High School

This terrible incidence occurred suddenly. The fact that Megumi must’ve only hoped to live an ordinary high school life was taken away. She must’ve felt devastated with lots of anger, sadness, and pain. After watching the animated film, “Megumi,” I still hear Megumi’s voice calling, “Mom!” and feel her pain, as if it left a strong impression on me. If I were taken away from my family, if I could not see my loved ones, would I have a reason to live in the world? Just by thinking these thoughts, my head aches, and chest tightens.

We all have at least one very precious person in the world. You may not realize this, but someone is supporting you. Abduction is in no way a reasonable thing, no matter who the person abducted is in this world.

I became more aware of the responsibilities as a part of society. Before I took the class on “the North Korean Abduction Issue,” I only had a vague idea about the issue. After that, I learned why it happened and what happened between the 2 countries in the Korean peninsula and Japan. Since I became a high school student, many things made more sense in the film I watched in the class. I feel that, as time goes on, more and more young people don’t know about the issue, even though they have heard Megumi’s name at some point. In my case, my parents knew about the issue very well, but my sisters (they are 1-year-younger and 7-years-younger than me) knew very little. Thus, we, high school students, have an Important role to summarize the issue in an easy-to-understand format for younger kids and disseminate it through our various school events.

For this, we should acquire a deeper understanding of the issue, connect with as many people as possible through the film, and take actions to raise public awareness. On the Internet, I have found possibilities such as the Blue Ribbon movement for abduction victims, in addition to regular petitions. As a member of the student counsel, I am a part of the “Citrus Ribbon Movement,” which aims to stop harmful rumors about the prefecture caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake from spreading. I wear the ribbon every time I participate in an interschool event. Students from other schools give comments to me, “Cute ribbon. What does it mean?” In return of my explanation of the ribbon, the other students advocate our activity and show interest in trying it out for themselves. In addition to the Citrus Ribbon Movement, I will work for the Blue Ribbon movement to give a chance to students in my neighborhood elementary and Junior senior high schools to learn about the North Korean abductions. My hope is that various people will join the movement, which may become more powerful and influential and that it reaches North Korea someday.