「全拉致被害者の救出を」　家族会などが署名活動―東京

　北朝鮮による拉致被害者らの早期救出を求める署名活動が２６日、東京・銀座の数寄屋橋交番前で行われ、家族会メンバーらが「親世代が存命のうちに、拉致被害者全員の救出に向けて署名をお願いします」と呼び掛けた。
　参加したのは、横田めぐみさん＝失跡当時（１３）＝の弟で、家族会代表の拓也さん（５６）や双子の弟哲也さん、支援団体「救う会」メンバーら約２０人。家族会と救う会が合同で署名活動を行うのは、１万筆を達成した２０１３年以来、１２年ぶり。
　活動後、取材に応じた拓也さんは「残された時間がない。親世代は母早紀江一人になってしまった」と焦りをあらわにし、「全ての被害者が日本で再会できるためにできることをする」と話した。
　署名活動は１９９７年の家族会結成後から始まり、２６日時点で計１９２３万筆に上る。（2025/04/26-15:18）

A signature campaign was held in Tokyo on Saturday to call for the early return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago.
   Some 20 people participated in the campaign in the Japanese capital's Ginza district, including Takuya Yokota, 56, leader of a group of abductee families, and his twin brother, Tetsuya. Megumi Yokota, the older sister of Takuya and Tetsuya, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 when she was 13.
   The participants also included members of an organization of people supporting the abductee families. It was the first time in 12 years for the family group and the supporter organization to hold such a campaign together.
   "We don't have time," Takuya said, showing a sense of urgency. Noting that his 89-year-old mother, Sakie, is now the only parent of the remaining abductees who is still alive, Takuya said, "We'll do anything we can for the reunion of all abductees in Japan."
   Signature-collecting activities for the rescue of the abductees started after the establishment of the family group in 1997, with the number of signatures gathered reaching 19.23 million as of Saturday.