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Oscar-winning
director Jane Campion executive-produced this heart-rending film about the 13-year-old Japanese girl who was abducted by
North Korean spies in 1977. But what the film does not mention is the long list of Japanese citizens who are themselves wanted for arrest on charges of international child
abduction. Many, if not most of these children were even younger than 13. Is this a different issue? Lets compare:
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North Korea:
Government Sponsored Abduction |
Japan:
Government Protected Abduction |
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From 1977 to 1983, 13 abductions to North Korea have been recognized, and 70 to 80 are suspected in total. |
From the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 125 children are abducted to Japan, each year. |
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Despite requests, North Korea continues to deny the extradition of North Korean abductors to Japan. |
Japan continues to ignore extradition requests and refuses to enforce arrest warrants issued for Japanese abductors. |
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As of 2006, the North Korean Government has assisted in the return of five abductees and their families to Japan. |
As of 2006, the Japanese Government has assisted in the return of zero abductees to their
country of origin. |
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North Korea has admitted their crimes of abduction to the world.
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Japan does not recognize parental abduction as a crime. |
All of Japan wants North Korea to account for Megumi's life and return her if she is still alive. But despite this
nationally shared experience of grief, the Japanese government will not return children from
other countries abducted to Japan by Japanese citizens. Further, Japan refuses international calls to
sign the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This
widely signed treaty requires a country to expeditiously return abducted children to their country of habitual residence.
The same thing Japan is asking of North Korea!! Japan is the only member
of the G7 that has not signed this treaty.
Finally, in cases brought to court, Japan claims that parental abduction is not a crime. Courts up to the Supreme Court of Japan routinely refuse to return children to foreign parents
with legal custody already ordered by foreign courts. Foreign courts in the country the children were living at the time the
Japanese parent abducted them. Thus the Japanese government
believes that its own citizens should be allowed to abduct children from other countries with impunity.
If Japan expects to be taken seriously in its demands for international justice, Japan too must follow accepted rules of international conduct. Although we sympathize with victims discussed
in Abduction:
The Megumi Yokota Story, the Canadian, American, Chilean, German, Dutch, Australian and other children kidnapped to Japan are equally
as important as the Japanese citizens who have been kidnapped by North Korea.
Left-behind parents all over the world are protesting against Japan's hypocrisy
and call on Japan to:
- Sign the “Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.”
- Return abducted children to their country of origin.
- Extradite Japanese citizens currently wanted for arrest under US and other countries’ warrants.
- Pass laws making parental kidnapping within, or to, Japan a crime!!
- Proactively facilitate frequent, meaningful and direct contact between foreign family members and their children in Japan.
You too an make a difference by organizing a full protest or even just handing out flyers at one or two showings in your area. This is how Megumi Yokota's parents started, and look what it got them - worldwide notice and condemnation of
international kidnappings. Please
contact us by email at megumiyokota26473 [AT) crnjapan.com if you are interested in helping in any way.
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Protests That Have Occurred... So Far... And Upcoming.... |
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Hollywood Arc Light Cinema
Los Angeles
August 18 - 24, 2006
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This inaugural protest occurred at the US premiere of Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story, in Los Angeles. There was a group with signs protesting on the first day and on dignitaries day when Akie Abe the wife of now Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe and others related to the story attended. There were reporters from Fuji TV, TBS, NHK, Kyodo News, Yomiuri Shinbun and several of them brought film crews. There were also two crews filming for potential
documentaries, one of which created a YouTube video (see above) with Japanese subtitles. Producers Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim Sheridan graciously fielded their first ever question concerning "The Other Japanese Abductions".
Read detailed reports from the LA front lines here.... See a short film from this protest: "Abduction is Abduction: The Hypocrisy of Megumi Yokota" |
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Washington DC
November 20-26, 2006
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This second protest in Washington DC was attended by Japanese Ambassador Kato, Matsmoto-san (the brother of one of the abductors), many other
Japanese dignitaries, and many US Senators and Congressmen and other celebrities. The protestors got in the first
question at the Q&A and explained the similarities between the Japanese kidnappings and the North Korean kidnappings.
They continued to hand out flyers to movie goers through
November 26. More details are available here. |
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New York City
Cinema Village
Friday January 12, 2007
1:00PM showing |
Binh Oshima, an American mother fighting in US court for supervised visitation to prevent the Japanese father of her children from having a chance to abduct them back to Japan, carried out a one woman effort on the first day of the
New York City premiere. Arriving 30 minutes before the show, she handed out 100 flyers to anyone reading the bulletin board about the movie, entering the theatre and anyone just walking by. She says, "I understand how Megumi's
parents feel, because losing one's child is like losing your life. I thought this movie does not only apply to Megumi' parents, but all parents who lose their children, and would feel the same frustration and pain." Thank you
Binh!! 
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Portland, Oregon Hollywood Theatre
February. 3, 4, 10, 11, 2007 |
The fourth protest was a big success. There were between 15 and 20 protestors on Saturday, which included friends and relatives of left behind parents
Brett Weed, T. Miklia, Eric Kalmus and Patrick Braden, Judy Maher of The Childseek Network,
When the theatre owners first saw the protestors, they came out and tried to explain that this film had nothing to do with this protest. They had obviously been briefed by someone. But the protestors were patient and
as they explained the issues, the owners seemed to come around and understand. Read more from rainy Portland Oregon here....
See the YouTube video "Face The Truth" from this protest.
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More protests to come!! |
Mentions on the Internet
Notes
There are two other North Korea kidnap documentaries:
Japan plans to ask Interpol to get
alleged N. Korean abductor; Kyodo News; August 1, 2002 (cached
copy)
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