“North Korea Kidnapped My Daugher” a memoir by Sakie Yokota

Plot/Synopsis
In “North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter”, Sakie Yokota recollects the past thirty of her life without her daughter, Megumi who had abruptly disappeared while walking home from school on the streets of Niigata, Japan. Without any trace of her whereabouts, she and her family were left to fill an empty void.

Twenty five years later, Sakie and her family are told that Megumi had been kidnapped by North Korean spies. With the relief of an answer, Sakie is also filled with pain after realizing the situation in its entirety; she becomes fully aware of the difficult living circumstances in North Korea and that saving Megumi is beyond her reach. Regardless, she continues today in full effort and hope to bring her daughter, as well as other victims, back home to Japan.

Review
I found the story deeply moving as I constantly felt Sakie’s pain as she went through life in uncertainty. Not only did she have to carry the burden of her missing daughter but also the heartless rumors that spurred in the media and the brutality of false hope.

Though the events within the book happened thirty years ago, she tells her story in amazing detail that truly depicts every experience in full illustration. For example when she had believed she saw Megumi in various people, she recollects where she saw them, who they were, where they were from, the pursuit of them and the events that followed.

Her story alone is not only inspiring but herself as a mother is also admirable. She would always question herself as a parent who didn’t do enough to keep her child safe or enough to bring her home regardless of her selfless acts. While she readily admits that she may not have the power to save her from North Korea, she continues today in her old age to do whatever she can.

The book was originally released in only Japanese; however, Sakie Yokota has now translated it in English in hopes of bringing to light the cruelty of North Korea’s actions. It is the only book she has written; however, she is an active member of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea who, like the purpose of this book, tell the world of her story.

The book will be available for sale on January 20, 2009. Pre-order your copy here.

Press Coverage on English Release