NAGO, Okinawa Prefecture—A high school student on a school trip and a boat captain died on March 16 after two tour boats capsized in rough seas off the coast of Henoko, the site of a controversial U.S. military base relocation project.
While protests at sea and sightseeing boat tours have been taking place in Henoko for more than 20 years, this is the first fatal accident.
The Japan Coast Guard suspects that the boat may have capsized after being hit by a sudden high wave and is investigating the cause with possible charges such as professional negligence resulting in danger to others and professional negligence resulting in death or injury.
The incident occurred in shallow waters approximately 1,500 meters southeast of the Henoko coastline, where relocation work is under way, outside the restricted access zone.
The deceased were identified as Tomoka Takeishi, 17, a second-year student at Doshisha International Senior High School in Kyoto Prefecture, and Hajime Kanai, 71, captain of one of the vessels, the Fukutsu.
Two other people were also injured.
All 21 people aboard the two boats—the Fukutsu (1.9 tons) and the Heiwa Maru (under 5 tons)—were thrown into the water when the vessels overturned around 10:12 a.m., according to the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters.
The Fukutsu capsized first, and the Heiwa Maru capsized about two minutes later. All crew members and passengers were rescued approximately one hour and 10 minutes later, but Takeishi and Kanai were later confirmed dead.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki told reporters he was “deeply saddened” by the news.
The 18 students on the tour were divided between the two vessels–10 on the Heiwa Maru and eight on the Fukutsu. All were wearing life jackets, but no supervising teacher was aboard, Coast Guard officials said.
Investigators believe one boat capsized first, and the second vessel flipped while approaching to attempt a rescue.
The students were observing construction work for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan to a new facility being built in Henoko.
The Japan Meteorological Agency had issued a high surf advisory for the Nago coast that morning, warning that a low-pressure system was causing high waves and swells along the Pacific coast.
TEACHERS SCOUTED HENOKO COURSE
Ichiro Futamata, the 62-year-old vice principal of Doshisha International Senior High School, told reporters at the hospital where the students were taken, “It is deeply tragic that a student’s life has been lost.”
According to the school and Futamata, 270 second-year students were visiting Okinawa Prefecture on a school trip from March 14-17.
It was the third day of the trip, and students were scheduled to split into seven groups to tour different locations. One of those was the “View Henoko from the sea by boat” course.
Futamata said teachers had scouted all seven courses during the summer break.
The school has been visiting Okinawa Prefecture for more than 40 years as part of its peace studies program, and the Henoko tour has been ongoing for about 20 years.
AloJapan.com