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Relative of N. Korean abduction victim loses in lower house election

SENDAI, Japan - Teruaki Masumoto, whose elder sister Rumiko is among Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, speaks in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after losing in the lower house election. Masumoto ran on the ticket of the small opposition Party for Future Generations.

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Masumoto speaks at meeting to raise abduction awareness

KANOYA, Japan - Teruaki Masumoto, whose elder sister Rumiko was abducted to North Korea in 1978, speaks at an event in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan, on Nov. 20, 2014, to raise public awareness of the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea.

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Japanese abductee kin call for help at U.N. meet

GENEVA, Switzerland - Teruaki Masumoto (L), secretary general of a group of families of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea, calls for international cooperation to prevent such crimes during a symposium at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva on Sept, 10, 2014. Tamaji Takeshita, a sister of suspected abductee Noriko Furukawa, holds a picture of Masumoto's abducted sister Rumiko.

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Japanese booth at Hong Kong Book Fair

HONG KONG, China - Youngsters look at comic books displayed at a booth representing Niigata, northeastern Japan, at the annual Hong Kong Book Fair in China on July 16, 2014. The Japanese city is the birthplace of renowned manga artists such as Shinji Mizushima and Rumiko Takahashi.

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Daughter finds Tezuka's drawings in locked desk

TOKYO, Japan - Rumiko Tezuka, daughter of famed Japanese manga creator Osamu Tezuka, speaks at Tezuka Productions' studio in Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, on April 1, 2014, about newly discovered drawings and other items found in her father's desk drawers that had remained locked since his death in 1989. The drawers of the desk, kept at the studio, were opened for the first time in 25 years on March 27.

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2 abductees reported alive in N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - Combination file photo shows Shuichi Ichikawa (L) and Rumiko Masumoto, who were abducted by North Korea. Ichikawa's brother Kenichi said Jan. 27, 2011, he obtained information that the two were alive in the country as of 2006, despite Pyongyang's claim that they have already died.

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Lu Xun's calligraphy donated to university

SENDAI, Japan - Tohoku University President Akihisa Inoue (L) and poet Rumiko Kora attend a ceremony at the university to donate calligraphy drawn by Chinese writer Lu Xun (1881-1936) to the university in Sendai, northeastern Japan, by Kora's family on June 23, 2010.

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High Court rejects appeal by war-displaced Japanese in damages suit

TOKYO, Japan - Rumiko Nishida (C) and Noriko Suzuki (R) hold a press conference after their damages suit was dismissed by the Tokyo High Court on June 21. Along with Takeko Fujii, they filed the suit, arguing that the state failed to take swift action to repatriate them from China after World War II.

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Japanese kin of abductee seeks China help on N. Korea kidnappings

BEIJING, China - Teruaki Masumoto (2nd from L), whose sister Rumiko was abducted by North Korea, and other members of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, hold a press conference in Beijing on Aug. 29. They urged China to make an effort to solve the cases, saying some victims are Chinese citizens.

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Japanese, S. Korean abductees' kin seek U.S. citizens' help

WASHINGTON, United States - The kin and supporters of both Japanese and South Korean citizens abducted by North Korea call for help at a rally outside the White House on April 22. ''Citizens of the United States, please join forces with our struggle,'' said Kenichi Ichikawa, elder brother of Shuichi Ichikawa, who vanished from a Kagoshima Prefecture beach in 1978 at age 23 along with his girlfriend Rumiko Masumoto, then 24.

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Kin express joy after film on abductee wins prize

TOKYO, Japan - The relatives of victims of North Korea's abductions expressed their delight in Tokyo on Jan. 30 after ''Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story,'' a U.S. documentary film on the abduction of the Japanese woman, won the best documentary award at the U.S. Slamdance Film Festival in Utah on Jan. 27. Sakie Yokota (R), Megumi's mother, and Teruaki Masumoto (L), whose sister Rumiko was abducted in 1978 at age 24, meet the press showing photos at the festival.

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2 die as jet ski collides with motorboat in Toyama

TOYAMA, Japan - Police officers investigate a jet ski on a beach in the city of Toyama on July 4 after it collided with a motor boat off the beach. Tadayuki Miyamoto, 33, and Rumiko Nogami, 34, who were riding the ski jet, were killed in the accident.

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Soga pays respects to Masumoto

AIRA, Japan - Hitomi Soga prays in Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Nov. 28 for Shoichi Masumoto, who died in October while waiting for the return of his daughter Rumiko Masumoto. North Korea said Rumiko and seven other Japanese nationals it abducted died in the country. (Pool photo)

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Abductees' relatives seek economic sanctions against N. Korea

FUKUOKA, Japan - Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, including Rumiko Masumoto and Kaoru Matsuki, and their supporters take to the streets in Fukuoka on Aug. 3, demanding the Japanese government impose economic sanctions on N. Korea.

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Abductees' kin to go to Washington next week to seek help

TOKYO, Japan - Teruaki Masumoto (R), whose sister Rumiko was abducted by North Korea in 1978, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 28. Masumoto will make a five-day visit to Washington on March 3 with three other relatives of abductees to ask the U.S. government for help in resolving the abduction issue.

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Families of abductees to visit U.S. next week

TOKYO, Japan - (From R to L) Teruaki Masumoto, Shigeru Yokota and his wife Sakie announce in Tokyo on Feb. 27 that they plan to visit the United States next week to seek help from the U.S. government and the American people in settling the abduction issue. The Yokotas' daughter Megumi was abducted in 1977 at age 13 and is said to have died in North Korea and Masumoto's sister Rumiko was abducted in 1978 when she was 24 and reported as dead by N. Korea.

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Wake held for father of Japanese abducted to N. Korea

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - A wake is held in Kagoshima Prefecture on Oct. 18 for Shoichi Masumoto, the father of Rumiko Masumoto, one of eight Japanese nationals who North Korea said have died after they were abducted to the country. The father, who was hospitalized in late August, died the previous day at age 79.

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Kin of missing Japanese meet 5 abductees

TOKYO, Japan - Shigeo Iizuka (L) and Teruaki Masumoto (R) respond to questions from reporters Oct. 16 at a Tokyo hotel after meeting with the five Japanese abducted to North Korea and now in Japan for a temporary visit. Iizuka's sister Yaeko Taguchi and Masumoto's sister Rumiko Masumoto were abducted to N. Korea in 1978 and listed as among the dead abductees by Pyongyang.

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(1)North Korea confirms eight persons dead

TOKYO, Japan - File photos show three persons who were taken to North Korea and were confirmed dead by North Korea on Sept. 17. (From L to R) Megumi Yokoya, Rumiko Masumoto and Shuichi Ichikawa.

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3 Japanese women left behind in China at end of WWII sue gov't

TOKYO, Japan - Noriko Suzuki (R) speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 7 after filing a suit against the Japanese government demanding 20 million yen each in compensation with two other women, Rumiko Nishida and Takeko Fujii. It is the first time for war-displaced Japanese to sue the state for alleged failure to protect its people during and after the war.

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3 Japanese women left behind in China at end of WWII sue gov't

TOKYO, Japan - Noriko Suzuki (R) speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 7 after filing a suit against the Japanese government demanding 20 million yen each in compensation with two other women, Rumiko Nishida and Takeko Fujii. It is the first time for war-displaced Japanese to sue the state for alleged failure to protect its people during and after the war.

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Abductees' kin to go to Washington next week to seek help

TOKYO, Japan - Teruaki Masumoto (R), whose sister Rumiko was abducted by North Korea in 1978, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 28. Masumoto will make a five-day visit to Washington on March 3 with three other relatives of abductees to ask the U.S. government for help in resolving the abduction issue. (Kyodo)

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2 die as jet ski collides with motorboat in Toyama

TOYAMA, Japan - Police officers investigate a jet ski on a beach in the city of Toyama on July 4 after it collided with a motor boat off the beach. Tadayuki Miyamoto, 33, and Rumiko Nogami, 34, who were riding the ski jet, were killed in the accident. (Kyodo)

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Kin of missing Japanese meet 5 abductees

TOKYO, Japan - Shigeo Iizuka (L) and Teruaki Masumoto (R) respond to questions from reporters Oct. 16 at a Tokyo hotel after meeting with the five Japanese abducted to North Korea and now in Japan for a temporary visit. Iizuka's sister Yaeko Taguchi and Masumoto's sister Rumiko Masumoto were abducted to N. Korea in 1978 and listed as among the dead abductees by Pyongyang. (Kyodo)

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Life-size bronze statues of popular anime characters unveiled in Tokyo

Renowned Japanese cartoonists Leiji Matsumoto (2nd from L) and Rumiko Takahashi (3rd from L) join other guests for a commemorative photo in front of the newly unveiled Oizumi Anime Gate, featuring life-size bronze statues of popular animation characters such as Astro Boy, at its opening ceremony in Tokyo's Nerima district on April 4, 2015. Nerima prides itself on being the birthplace of Japan's anime production industry. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Life-size bronze statues of popular anime characters unveiled in Tokyo

Popular cartoonist Rumiko Takahashi poses with the newly unveiled bronze statue of Lum, a lead character in her award-winning "Urusei Yatsura" comic series, at an opening ceremony for the Oizumi Anime Gate at Oizumi Gakuen Station in Tokyo's Nerima district on April 4, 2015. Nerima prides itself on being the birthplace of Japan's anime production industry. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Petition for Japanese abductees' quick return from N. Korea

Teruaki Masumoto (far L), whose elder sister Rumiko was abducted in 1978 by North Korea at age 24, submits a petition with about 4,200 signatures to Hiromi Mitsubayashi (far R), senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office, in Tokyo on March 23, 2021, calling for a quick return of the victims of North Korean abductions.

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Japanese kin of abductee seeks China help on N. Korea kidnapping

BEIJING, China - Teruaki Masumoto (2nd from L), whose sister Rumiko was abducted by North Korea, and other members of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, hold a press conference in Beijing on Aug. 29. They urged China to make an effort to solve the cases, saying some victims are Chinese citizens. (Kyodo)

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High Court rejects appeal by war-displaced Japanese in damages s

TOKYO, Japan - Rumiko Nishida (C) and Noriko Suzuki (R) hold a press conference after their damages suit was dismissed by the Tokyo High Court on June 21. Along with Takeko Fujii, they filed the suit, arguing that the state failed to take swift action to repatriate them from China after World War II. (Kyodo)

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Japanese, S. Korean abductees' kin seek U.S. citizens' help

WASHINGTON, United States - The kin and supporters of both Japanese and South Korean citizens abducted by North Korea call for help at a rally outside the White House on April 22. ''Citizens of the United States, please join forces with our struggle,'' said Kenichi Ichikawa, elder brother of Shuichi Ichikawa, who vanished from a Kagoshima Prefecture beach in 1978 at age 23 along with his girlfriend Rumiko Masumoto, then 24. (Kyodo)

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Kin express joy after film on abductee wins prize

TOKYO, Japan - The relatives of victims of North Korea's abductions expressed their delight in Tokyo on Jan. 30 after ''Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story,'' a U.S. documentary film on the abduction of the Japanese woman, won the best documentary award at the U.S. Slamdance Film Festival in Utah on Jan. 27. Sakie Yokota (R), Megumi's mother, and Teruaki Masumoto (L), whose sister Rumiko was abducted in 1978 at age 24, meet the press showing photos at the festival. (Kyodo)

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Lu Xun's calligraphy donated to university

SENDAI, Japan - Tohoku University President Akihisa Inoue (L) and poet Rumiko Kora attend a ceremony at the university to donate calligraphy drawn by Chinese writer Lu Xun (1881-1936) to the university in Sendai, northeastern Japan, by Kora's family on June 23, 2010. (Kyodo)

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Relative of N. Korean abduction victim loses in lower house election

SENDAI, Japan - Teruaki Masumoto, whose elder sister Rumiko is among Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, speaks in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after losing in the lower house election. Masumoto ran on the ticket of the small opposition Party for Future Generations. (Kyodo)

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Japanese abductee kin call for help at U.N. meet

GENEVA, Switzerland - Teruaki Masumoto (L), secretary general of a group of families of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea, calls for international cooperation to prevent such crimes during a symposium at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva on Sept, 10, 2014. Tamaji Takeshita, a sister of suspected abductee Noriko Furukawa, holds a picture of Masumoto's abducted sister Rumiko. (Kyodo)

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Japanese booth at Hong Kong Book Fair

HONG KONG, China - Youngsters look at comic books displayed at a booth representing Niigata, northeastern Japan, at the annual Hong Kong Book Fair in China on July 16, 2014. The Japanese city is the birthplace of renowned manga artists such as Shinji Mizushima and Rumiko Takahashi. (Kyodo)

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2 abductees reported alive in N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - Combination file photo shows Shuichi Ichikawa (L) and Rumiko Masumoto, who were abducted by North Korea. Ichikawa's brother Kenichi said Jan. 27, 2011, he obtained information that the two were alive in the country as of 2006, despite Pyongyang's claim that they have already died. (Kyodo)

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Relief with Osamu Tezuka's cartoon characters

Photo taken March 18, 2019, shows a large relief depicting cartoon characters of the late cartoonist Osamu Tezuka's comic books, installed on a wall of Kokusai-tenjijo station in Tokyo. His daughter Rumiko who attended the relief's unveiling ceremony the same day is seen in this photo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Memorial service for mother of Japanese abducted by N. Korea

A memorial service is held in Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 14, 2017 for Nobuko Masumoto, the mother of Rumiko Masumoto, who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 at age 24. Nobuko died on Dec. 12 at age 90. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kin of Japanese abductees seeking return of all from N. Korea

Kenichi Ichikawa (far L), whose younger brother Shuichi was abducted to North Korea at age 23 in 1978, speaks to reporters on Sept. 8, 2016, at a seacoast in Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, where Shuichi and his girlfriend Rumiko Masumoto were kidnapped. Ichikawa, who attended an inspection with the lower house panel on the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals, said he wants Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to visit North Korea and realize the return of all abductees. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Soga pays respects to Masumoto

AIRA, Japan - Hitomi Soga prays in Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Nov. 28 for Shoichi Masumoto, who died in October while waiting for the return of his daughter Rumiko Masumoto. North Korea said Rumiko and seven other Japanese nationals it abducted died in the country. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

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Abductees' relatives seek economic sanctions against N. Korea

FUKUOKA, Japan - Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, including Rumiko Masumoto and Kaoru Matsuki, and their supporters take to the streets in Fukuoka on Aug. 3, demanding the Japanese government impose economic sanctions on N. Korea. (Kyodo)

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Families of abductees to visit U.S. next week

TOKYO, Japan - (From R to L) Teruaki Masumoto, Shigeru Yokota and his wife Sakie announce in Tokyo on Feb. 27 that they plan to visit the United States next week to seek help from the U.S. government and the American people in settling the abduction issue. The Yokotas' daughter Megumi was abducted in 1977 at age 13 and is said to have died in North Korea and Masumoto's sister Rumiko was abducted in 1978 when she was 24 and reported as dead by N. Korea. (Kyodo)

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Wake held for father of Japanese abducted to N. Korea

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - A wake is held in Kagoshima Prefecture on Oct. 18 for Shoichi Masumoto, the father of Rumiko Masumoto, one of eight Japanese nationals who North Korea said have died after they were abducted to the country. The father, who was hospitalized in late August, died the previous day at age 79. (Kyodo)

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(1)North Korea confirms eight persons dead

TOKYO, Japan - File photos show three persons who were taken to North Korea and were confirmed dead by North Korea on Sept. 17. (From L to R) Megumi Yokoya, Rumiko Masumoto and Shuichi Ichikawa. (Kyodo)