Freed abductee returns from Yemen to family, squid sashimi

An engineer abducted by armed tribesmen in Yemen returned to Japan Friday night following his release and was met by his family.

Together again: Tekeo Mashimo, an engineer abducted by armed tribesmen in Yemen, speaks to reporters with his wife, Kyoko, by his side at Tokyo's Haneda airport after returning to the country Friday night. KYODO PHOTO

Tekeo Mashimo, 63, told reporters at Tokyo's Haneda airport he was "moved" and "glad" to see his wife, Kyoko, upon arrival at the airport.

He said he was looking forward to talking with his family over meals and eating sashimi, in particular squid.

But he said he also hopes to return to Yemen to see the completion of a Japanese aid project to build a school.

Mashimo plans to return after undergoing health checks at a hospital in Saitama Prefecture and resting at home.

He was released from captivity Monday, eight days after being abducted.

Mashimo was seized on Nov. 15 along with his Yemeni driver as they were traveling to the site of a school being constructed as part of a Japan International Cooperation Agency aid project in the town of Arhab, several dozen kilometers north of San'a.