47 Years of Silence: A Notebook Reveals the Stolen Life of a JapaneseAbductee
米子市，日本 – On October 21st, 1977, 29-year-old Kyoko Matsumoto vanished from the streets of Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan.She was on her way to a weaving class when she was abducted by North Korean agents, a chilling event that marked the beginning of a 47-yearnightmare for her family and a stark reminder of the lingering trauma of North Korea’s abduction program.
This year, on the 47th anniversary of her disappearance, Kyoko’s brother, Takeshi Matsumoto, shared a poignantartifact that offers a glimpse into his sister’s stolen life: a notebook she kept before her abduction.
The notebook, a treasure trove of everyday details, reveals Kyoko’s meticulous nature and her vibrant life before it was abruptlycut short. It contains meticulously recorded appointments, names of friends, and descriptions of her routine activities. The pages, filled with Kyoko’s handwriting, depict a life brimming with normalcy and hope, a life that was brutally snatched away by North Korea’s shadowy operations.
The notebook’s stark silenceafter October 1977 speaks volumes. The blank pages serve as a chilling reminder of the abrupt cessation of Kyoko’s daily life, a life abruptly replaced by an unknown fate in North Korea.
“My sister was a straight-laced and meticulous person,” Takeshi said, his voice choked with emotionas he looked at the notebook. “Seeing her handwriting brought back a flood of memories and a deep sense of longing.”
Takeshi’s words echo the sentiments of countless families who have been torn apart by North Korea’s abduction program. For them, the passage of time has not diminished the pain of their loss,the agonizing uncertainty of their loved ones’ fate, and the desperate hope for their return.
The notebook, a silent testament to Kyoko’s stolen life, serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of North Korea’s actions. It is a poignant call for accountability and a plea for the return of those whowere unjustly taken. As Takeshi poignantly stated, “For my sister, these 47 years have been like being thrown away, a fate she never wished for. I pray for her safe return.”
References:
- NHK World Japan (2023). 松本京子被朝绑架47年 其记事本首次公开 [Kyoko Matsumoto abducted by North Korea for 47 years, her notebook is made public for the first time]. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp//nhkworld/upld/thumbnails/zh/news/k100146149510001L.jpg
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