They were ordinary people abducted from Japan by North Korea. One was Yaeko Taguchi, a young mother raising two children in Tokyo. She disappeared without a trace in 1978. The case came as a shock to Koichiro Iizuka, who learned of his mother's identity as a young adult. Yaeko's disappearance bore similarities to those of 13-year-old Megumi Yokota in episode 1, as well as the college student Kaoru Hasuike in episode 2. However, there were scant clues to explain what happened, as Journalist...

They were ordinary people abducted from Japan by North Korea. Like 13-year-old Megumi Yokota in episode 1. And the college student Kaoru Hasuike, who tells the story of his kidnapping in episode 2. Journalist Masami Abe was one of the first to look into the mysterious disappearances of young Japanese near beaches in Japan and link them back to North Korea. But because the crimes and their motives were so bizarre, it took two decades before his story finally gained traction. In this episode,...

They were ordinary people abducted from Japan by North Korea. Like Kaoru Hasuike, a young student who was kidnapped while on an evening walk by the sea. Kaoru spent 24 years in North Korea. He was one of the lucky few who were allowed to return to Japan in 2002. To this day he feels conflicted.    JAPAN Forward presents Episode 2 of "Abducted – Four Stories, Four Lives," a new podcast series that investigates the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea.  Hosted by...

JAPAN Forward presents "Abducted, Four Stories, Four Lives." a new podcast series that investigates the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea. Hosted by journalists Arielle Busetto and Agnes Tandler, these talks give listeners an insight into the lives of four different people who are forever changed by a series of terrible crimes. Their lives are later all linked together in unexpected ways. It is the first-ever podcast series dedicated to this topic.  One was Megumi Yokota,...