![Towards the immediate Rescue of All Abductees! North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week Essay Competition 2023 / Hosted by Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Government of Japan Supportes by the Ministry of Justice,and the Ministry of Fotreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education,Culuture,Sports,Science and Technology. Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Government of Japan held an essay competition for junior high and high school students in Japan to offer them a chance to learn and understand the abductions issue by watching movies, a theatrical play, and reading publications on the abductions issue. [Winners decided : Now accepting applications]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a3134c_9374a86d9789465bad1c32adcdab9efc~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_1211,h_498,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/hero_en_top.webp)
The winners have been decided
After having received 3,572 submissions from all over the country, we selected four grand prize winners, six excellence award winners, and six special award recipients.
In addition, we established a group award in order to recognize those schools which proactively submitted essays, and this year we selected eight schools as winners of those awards. The awards ceremony took place on December 16th, and was held at Iino Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
Award ceremony in Tokyo this year
Junior High School Category
1st Prize
HASHIMA Naho
9th grade, Satsumasendai City Kedoin Junior High School
2nd Prize
NAKAMURA Meyu
9th grade, Yachimata Municipal Yachimataminami Junior High School
IKEDA Nanase
9th grade, Minamidaito village Minamidaito Junior High School
3rd Prize
Let us take a step forward
FUJITA Kojun
9th grade, Niigata Municipal Yorii Junior High School
Return the abducted victims as soon as possible
KITAYAMA Momona
9th grade, Ushiku Municipal Okuno Compulsory Education School
Regarding the abduction issue
TAKEKOSHI Momoka
8th grade, Hachioji Municipal Matsugaya Junior High School
High School Category
IKEDA Kazune
11th grade, Eishin Junior and Senior High School
2nd Prize
3rd Prize
We must not allow this to end as a tragedy
HOKUSHIN Kanako
11th grade, Utsunomiya Junior College Attached High School
Regarding the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea
MORIMOTO Yuki
11th grade, Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Commercial High School
Now, the day for action has arrived
OTA Ippei
11th grade, Tokyo Metropolitan HONJO High School
English Essay Junior High School Category
2nd Prize
Elio ESPOSITO
7th grade, AOBA-JAPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
English Essay High School Category
1st Prize
OKUDA Ria
11th grade, Osaka Prefectural Suito Kokusai Junior & Senior High School
2nd Prize
TANAKA Yuki
10th grade, Shukutoku Senior High School
Group Award
Hanamaki Municipal Hanamaki-Kita Junior High School
AOBA-JAPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Nerima Ward Kaishin Second Junior High School
Hokuto Municipal Koryo Junior High School
Osaka Prefectural Neyagawa High School
Osaka Prefectural Suito Kokusai Junior & Senior High School
Kanagawa Prefectural Atsugi-Higashi Senior High School
Keiai Gakuen Senior High School