The 4th Cinema Forum "A Pledge to Megumi" Yokosuka

Thirty people attended the screening. Of those who attended, 17 were first-time participants in an event raising awareness about the abduction issue.
Following the film screening, a mini-talk titled "Yokosuka and the Abduction Incident" was held featuring Kazuhiro Araki (Representative of the Reserve Blue Ribbon Association and former Reserve Sergeant Major) and Masaharu Sugino (Deputy Secretary-General of the Association for the Investigation of Specific Missing Persons). They presented in detail the results and considerations of their on-site investigation conducted in Yokosuka in February of this year, which focused on specific missing persons and past incidents in the surrounding area. They discussed how abductions can be prevented and how abduction victims can be rescued. Sugino stated that unless Japan presses North Korea with a strong resolve, saying "you never know what Japan will do if it loses its temper," it will be impossible to "recover" the abduction victims. He emphasized the need for concrete action by Japan. Participants also actively offered opinions and asked questions.

We received many comments from participants who kindly completed a survey. Here are some of them.
"We'll support them until everyone is rescued."
"I hope the country can somehow manage to do its best."
"I was reminded once again that we must never forget the abduction issue."
"I don't understand at all why so much time has passed without being able to rescue our own people."

"Sanctions against North Korea should be strengthened." "An anti-espionage law should be established."
"I will participate again if there are opportunities like this in the future."
"This should be continued at the grassroots level." "All Japanese people should watch this."

"I felt frustrated by the fact that the abduction cases were not being resolved."

"Each and every Japanese citizen must consider what they can do to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. That is the only way for the victims to find peace."

"These kinds of efforts are necessary to prevent this issue from being forgotten."

"I believe that if more people become aware of this, we can significantly expand our activities."

Members of the Taiyukai (Veterans Association), Suikokai (Naval Officers Association), and Self-Defense Forces personnel also participated, and we received feedback such as "It was very educational." In fact, the "Yumeminami Incident" that occurred in Yokosuka City in 1988 revealed North Korean operations targeting the National Defense Academy and the Self-Defense Forces. Furthermore, as seen in the suspicious vessel incident off the Noto Peninsula, the Self-Defense Forces are not unrelated to abduction incidents. This is a film that we hope many more people involved with the Self-Defense Forces will watch in the future.

After the cinema forum concluded, many people requested blue ribbon badges and showed their support for the blue ribbon movement.

The Reserve Blue Ribbon Association will be holding cinema forums in various locations in the future, so please join us if you are in the area.