Manga series enters abduction fray

While Japan threatens political and economic retaliation against North Korea unless the Communist country returns Japanese citizens it has kidnapped or gives a "sincere response" on their fates, publisher Futabasha is telling the story of a 13-year-old abductee in a manga series.

Megumi Yokota, who was abducted in 1977, is probably Japan's most famous kidnap victim, and now appears in a nine-part story in Manga Action. Futabasha also publishes Lupin the 3rd and Crayon Shin-chan. Here's chief editor Katsushi Minoura, who has met with Megumi's parents and visited the site of her abduction:

"Comic books are popular among the Japanese. It's a favorite media. Using manga expressions, I thought it could pave the way for people to think and reflect about the incident and her fate."