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Former abductee Hasuike

Former Japanese abductee Kaoru Hasuike speaks during a rally in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2025, calling for a united effort to bring back all the remaining abductees to Japan. Hasuike, 67, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

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Rally to seek return of Japanese abductees

Former Japanese abductee Kaoru Hasuike speaks during a rally held in Echizen in the central Japan prefecture of Fukui on Nov. 17, 2024, for the return to Japan of other Japanese abducted by North Korea.

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Rally to seek return of Japanese abductees

Former Japanese abductee Kaoru Hasuike speaks during a rally held in Echizen in the central Japan prefecture of Fukui on Nov. 17, 2024, for the return to Japan of other Japanese abducted by North Korea.

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Former abductee's brother

TOKYO, Japan - Toru Hasuike, the older brother of Kaoru Hasuike, who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 and returned to Japan in 2002, is interviewed in Tokyo on May 19, 2014.

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Japanese abductees before 10th anniv. of return home

NIIGATA, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (L) and his wife Yukiko, two of the five Japanese abductees repatriated to Japan from North Korea on Oct. 15, 2002, hold a press conference in the city hall of Kashiwazaki on the Sea of Japan coast in Niigata Prefecture on Oct. 13, 2012, ahead of the 10th anniversary of their return home.

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Former abductees' family regains "ordinary life" in Japan hometown

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows two children of abduction victims Kaoru and Yukiko Hasuike, and three children of abductees Yasushi and Fukie Chimura preparing to leave Pyongyang international airport for Japan on May 22, 2004.

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Abductee thanks friend for advice upon 2002 return from N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows five abduction victims -- Yasushi Chimura (R front), his wife Fukie (C front), Kaoru Hasuike and his wife Yukiko (center), and Hitomi Soga (upper left) -- returning to Japan from North Korea at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Oct. 15, 2002.

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Ex-abductee Hasuike wins nonfiction award

TOKYO, Japan - Repatriated abductee Kaoru Hasuike (file photo) won an award Aug. 27, 2009, for a nonfiction work that features his experience of being abducted to North Korea and living in the reclusive country. Hasuike went missing along with his girlfriend, Yukiko Okudo, in Niigata Prefecture in July 1978, and returned to Japan in October 2002 with Okudo, to whom he got married in North Korea, after Pyongyang admitted to past abductions of Japanese citizens.

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Hasuike becomes full-time college instructor

NIIGATA, Japan - Former Japanese victim of North Korean abduction Kaoru Hasuike talks to reporters at Niigata Sangyo University in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on April 2 after being made a full-time instructor there.

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Former abductee Hasuike graduates from Chuo Univ.

TOKYO, Japan - Former abductee Kaoru Hasuike (L in front) attends a graduation ceremony at Chuo University in Tokyo on March 25, where he studied law before he was abducted by North Korean agents in 1978.

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Repatriated abductees identify 2 N. Korean agents

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Sin Guang Su, one of two North Korean agents, who have been identified by repatriated Japanese abductees Kaoru Hasuike and Yasushi Chimura as being responsible for their abductions, investigative sources said on Dec. 30. Their testimonies have prompted the Japanese police to launch an investigation in order to obtain arrest warrants for the two agents. The other agent is a man simply known as ''Park.'' the source said.

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Hasuike starts full-time teaching

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, one of the five repatriated victims of abduction by North Korea, receives a letter of appointment as a full-time contract employee at Niigata Sangyo University on April 1. Hasuike, 47, who had been teaching Korean part time at the university, takes on additional tasks such as offering guidance to foreign students.

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Hasuike says his children dedicated to doing what they must

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, a Japanese citizen formerly abducted by North Korea, tells reporters Aug. 21 that his North Korean-born son and daughter ''are dedicating to do what they have to do.'' The son and daughter came to Japan from N. Korea three months ago.

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Daughter, son of Hasuikes to attend college

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Former abductees Kaoru (L) and Yukiko Hasuike give a press conference in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on June 22. They said their son Katsuya, 19, and daughter Shigeyo, 22, will join a college in the fall semester after studying Japanese there.

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N. Korea isolated abductee Hasuike from society in late 1990s

KASHIWAZAKI, JHapan - Kaoru Hasuike, one of five abductees repatriated from North Korea, speaks with reporters in his hometown of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on May 25. Hasuike said he was kept isolated in the North during the late 1990s when the abduction of Japanese citizens was becoming an increasingly important issue in Japan.

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Hasuikes arrive at Kashiwazaki home

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (R) speaks to supporters and neighbors in front of his house in Kashiwazaki, Nikata Prefecture, May 23 after arriving there with his wife Yukiko (L), and their two children. Kaoru and Yukiko, two of five Japanese abductees repatriated from North Korea in 2002, were reunited with their children on the previous night in Tokyo.

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(2)Hasuikes, Soga leave for hometowns in Niigata Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (L) and his wife Yukiko wave as they leave a Tokyo hotel with their two children for their hometown in Niigata Prefecture on May 23, one day after they and their children were reunited for the first time in 19 months.

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Chimura, Hasuike meet press after being reunited with children

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese abductees Kaoru Hasuike (L) and Yasushi Chimura (R) meet reporters at a Tokyo hotel on May 22 after they were reunited with their children from Pyongyang.

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5 children of Chimuras, Hasuikes reunited with parents

TOKYO, Japan - Cabinet Secretariat special adviser Kyoko Nakayama (C) greets former Japanese abductees Kaoru and Yukiko Hasuike, and Yasushi and Fukie Chimura, and the couples' sons and daughters at a Tokyo hotel on May 22. (Pool photo)

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Chimuras, Hasuikes head to see sons and daughters at Haneda

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese abductees, Yasushi Chimura (L) and his wife Fukie (2nd from L), Kaoru Hasuike (2nd from R) and his wife Yukiko (R), board a bus to Tokyo's Haneda airport to meet their sons and daughters from Pyongyang.

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Ex-abductees express joy over coming reunions with children

TOKYO, Japan - Four of the five repatriated abductees expressed joy in Tokyo on May 22 over the reunions to take place later in the day with their sons and daughters, when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi returns home from Pyongyang after talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. But they also expressed unhappiness that the three family members of a former abductee, Hitomi Soga (C), will not be coming to Japan at this time. The four are (from L to R) Yasushi Chimura and his wife Fukie, Yukiko Hasuike and her husband Kaoru.

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5 abductees anticipate reunions after Japan-N. Korea talks

TOKYO, Japan - Five repatriated Japanese abductees from North Korea -- (from L to R) Yasushi Chimura, his wife Fukie, Hitomi Soga, Yukiko Hasuike and her husband Kaoru -- hold a news conference in Tokyo on May 21 ahead of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang on May 22. Koizumi will meet N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il for talks on the abduction and other issues.

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(2)5 ex-N. Korea abductees cast votes in election

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike and his wife, Yukiko, cast their ballots in the House of Representatives election in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on Nov. 9. The couple are among five Japanese abducted by North Korea who returned to Japan last year.

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(2)Abductees meet the press

KASHIWAZAJI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, 46, looks at his wife Yukiko, 47, during a news conference at the Kashiwazaki municipal government office in Niigata Prefecture on Oct. 14, a day before marking the first anniversary of their repatriation from North Korea. Both were abducted to North Korea in the late 1970s and returned to Japan in 2002.

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Hasuike's parents want Koizumi to revisit N. Korea

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Hidekazu (R) and Hatsui (L) Hasuike, the parents of Kaoru Hasuike, one of five Japanese abductees to North Korea, speak during an interview with Kyodo News at their home in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 3. They expressed discontent over the Japanese government's efforts to resolve the abduction issue.

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(2)Abductees seek early settlement to abduction issue

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, one of Japanese abductees to North Korea, speaks to reporters at the Kashiwazaki municipal office on Sept. 16. Prior to the first anniversary of the summit meeting of Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Hsuike, said, ''I knew beforehand the planned visit by the premier.''

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(3)Former abductees discuss letters from children

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru (R) and Yukiko Hasuike, abducted to North Korea 25 years ago and repatriated to Japan last October, tell reporters about a letter from their daughter in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on Aug. 3. They said their daughter asked them to return to the North soon in the letter, which they received the previous day through a Japanese nongovernmental organization and the government.

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(2)Emperor, empress welcome Hasuikes home from N. Korea

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru (L) and Yukiko (R) Hasuike tell reporters about their impressions after chatting briefly with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who visited the Kashiwazaki city hall in Niigata Prefecture on June 13. The Hasuikes, repatriated in October after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, are working at the city office.

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(1)Emperor, empress welcome Hasuikes home from N. Korea

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko wave as they leave the Kashiwazaki city hall in Niigata Prefecture on June 13 where they met briefly with Kaoru and Yukiko Hasuike, who were repatriated in October after being abducted to North Korea in 1978. The Hasuikes are working at the city office.

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(2)Japan may study economic sanctions on N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - Five repatriated Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea in 1978 alight from their bus at a Tokyo hotel to attend a luncheon with government officials May 8. (From L to R) Fukie Chimura, Hitomi Soga (in the bus), Yukiko Hasuike, Kaoru Hasuike and Yasushi Chimura. They met Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda earlier in the day.

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Hasuikes cast ballots in 2nd half of local elections

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru (R) and Yukiko Hasuike, who returned to Japan last year after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, cast their ballots in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on April 27 as voting began nationwide in 391 mayoral and 1,306 municipal assembly elections. (Pool photo)

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Toru Hasuike raps Foreign Ministry over inaction on N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - Toru Hasuike, whose brother Kaoru is one of five repatriated Japanese victims of abductions by North Korea, speaks in a recent interview with Kyodo News. He has expressed dissatisfaction with the Japanese Foreign Ministry, saying it is not taking a firm stance against Pyongyang.

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(1)Hasuikes, Chimuras start working at local gov'ts

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (L) watches his wife Yukiko receive a letter of appointment from Masazumi Saikawa, mayor of Kashiwazaki, on April 1. The Kashiwazaki city government assigned Kaoru to its public relations department and Yukiko to the children's department. The couple will work on a one-year contract. (Pool photo)

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Hasuikes to begin working on April 1

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru (R) and Yukiko Hasuike smile March 25 as they are asked by reporters about the jobs offered to them by the Kashiwazaki city government. Kaoru will be assigned to the city government's public relations department while his wife will work in the children's department. (Pool photo)

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Hasuikes watch high school baseball match

KOSHIEN, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (R), a Japanese who returned to Japan last year after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, and his wife Yukiko (L), cheer for baseball players of his alma mater Kashiwazaki Senior High School in Niigata Prefecture, in the opening match of the national senior high school baseball championship at Koshien, Hyogo Prefecture, on March 22.

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(2)Abductee Hasuike visits old school

TOKYO, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, one of five Japanese nationals who returned to Japan in 2002 after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, speaks to reporters after his visit with his wife Yukiko to his alma mater Chuo University in Tokyo's Hachioji on March 14.

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Abductee Hasuike visits old school

TOKYO, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (R), one of five Japanese nationals who returned to Japan last year after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, eats with his wife Yukiko at his alma mater Chuo University on March 14. The couple toured its Tama campus in Tokyo's Hachioji at the invitation of a group created by students and alumni in 1998 to try to rescue Hasuike from the North.

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Hasuikes arrive in Tokyo for 4-day visit

TOKYO, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (R) and his wife Yukiko (L), who returned to Japan last October after being abducted by North Korea in 1978, arrived in Tokyo from their hometown of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on March 13 for a four-day visit to discuss the abduction issue with lawmakers. (Pool photo)

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(2)Hasuike begins working at Kashiwazaki city gov't

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (standing), one of the five abduction victims returned from North Korea, addresses Kashiwazaki city government staff in Niigata Prefecture Feb. 17, the first day of his work at the city office in his hometown. (Pool photo)

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(1)Hasuike begins working at Kashiwazaki city gov't

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (front), one of the five abduction victims returned from North Korea, receives instructions about his work at the city government of his hometown of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture on Feb. 17, the first day of his work at the city office. Hasuike will work about three times a week as a temporary worker ahead of his full-time employment in April. (Pool photo)

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Hasuikes to be employed as temporary city workers

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kashiwazaki Mayor Masazumi Saikawa (R) meets with Kaoru Hasuike (C) and his wife Yukiko (L) at their home in Kashiwazaki in Niigata Prefecture on Feb. 2. The mayor later said the couple will be employed by the Kashiwazaki city government as temporary workers from April. (Pool photo)

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Kaoru Hasuike visits city facilities before starting work

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru (L) and Yukiko (R) Hasuike, repatriated from North Korea after being abducted in 1978, begin a tour of public facilities run by his hometown of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, with a visit to a nursing care center for children and the elderly on Jan. 14. Kaoru plans to start working at the city government office in February.

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Hasuike starts teaching Korean language class

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, one of five Japanese nationals repatriated in October 2002 after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, teaches a Korean language class run by a private organization in Kashiwazaki, Niiga Prefecture on Jan. 9, as his wife Yukiko (L) observes. (Pool photo)

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Hasuikes receive 400 New Year's cards from across Japan

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Toru Hasuike, elder brother of Kaoru Hasuike, one of the five Japanese abducted to North Korea and now back in their homeland, speaks to reporters Jan. 3 about how Kaoru and his wife Yukiko spend their New Year's holiday. Toru said the couple received about 400 New Year's greeting cards from across Japan. (Pool photo)

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Hasuikes visit shrine on New Year's Day

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (L) and his wife Yukiko, two of the five Japanese who were abducted to North Korea in 1978 and now back in Japan, visit a shrine in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on Jan. 1. The couple said they prayed each for an early reunion in Japan with their children still in North Korea.(Pool photo)

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Hasuikes speak about their life

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike (R) and his wife Yukiko, two of the five Japanese who were abducted to North Korea in 1978, speak to the press at the Kashiwazaki municipal office in Niigata Prefecture on Dec. 27 about their life in North Korea and Japan. The five returned to Japan on Oct. 15 on what was supposed to be a trip of about two weeks. Japan then decided to keep them and is asking North Korea to send their families here. (pool photo)

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Hasuikes take last computer lesson at residence

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru (L) and Yukiko Hasuike, two of five Japanese abducted to North Korea in 1978 and now back in their homeland, sit for their 11th and final computer lesson at their residence in Niigata Prefecture on Dec. 24. The couple have been taking computer lessons from Kashiwazaki municipal government officials since Nov. 20 based on his request to learn how to use a computer so he can apply the knowledge in his future job. (Pool photo)

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Hasuike to begin working at Kashiwazaki city hall

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Kaoru Hasuike, who was abducted to North Korea in the late 1970s and now back to his homeland, speaks to reporters following his meeting with Kashiwazaki Mayor Masazumi Saikawa on Dec. 22. The mayor said Hasuike may start working at the Kashiwazaki city hall as early as February.

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4 abductees enjoy staying together overnight

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Two couples who were abducted to North Korea in 1978 and are now back in Japan speak to reporters Dec. 21 after staying together overnight in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture. They are (from L to R) Kaoru Hasuike, Yasushi and Fukie Chimura, and Yukiko Hasuike.

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Chimuras to stay at Hasuikes' home

KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - Yasushi Chimura (2nd from R) and his wife Fukie (3rd from R), two of the five Japanese now back home after being abducted to North Korea in 1978, were invited to stay at the home of the Hasuikes in Niigata Prefecture on the way back to their home in Fukui Prefecture after a reunion of the five in Niigata Prefecture. (From L to R) are Yukiko Hasuike, her husband Kaoru, and his mother Hatsui. At right is Kaoru's father Hidekazu. (Pool photo)