Two Years Underwater: The Long Wait for Justice in Shiretoko Boat Tragedy
Former Tokyo Prosecutor Speaks on 2022 Shiretoko Tourist Boat Accident
Lawyer Masaru Wakasa, former deputy chief of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division, recently spoke on Fuji TV’s information program “Mezamashi 8″ about the 2022 Shiretoko tourist boat accident. On April 23, 2022, the tourist boat “KAZU 1” sank off the coast of Shiretoko, Hokkaido, resulting in 20 deaths and 6 missing persons.
On September 18, the 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (Otaru) arrested Seiichi Katsurada, president of the operating company Shiretoko Pleasure Boat Company, on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death and professional negligence resulting in endangerment of traffic. Katsurada is accused of neglecting his duty to ensure safety, leading to the deaths of 26 people, including those still missing.
The Regional Coast Guard explained that the reason for the arrest was the possibility of evidence destruction. They stated that they needed to carefully accumulate evidence, including through the analysis of weather data. The cause of the sinking was attributed to worsening weather, which caused the hull to shake repeatedly, and waves entering the ship through a hatch near the bow, filling the engine room and other areas with seawater.
A water flooding experiment was conducted using a 3D printed model of the ship to recreate the circumstances of the accident. Although there were no eyewitness accounts, evidence was accumulated through experiments and other means, concluding that water seepage through the hatch was the cause of the sinking.
The suspects are accused of neglecting their duties to ensure safety as the ship’s navigation manager by postponing departure or halting the voyage on April 23, 2022. The Regional Coast Guard has determined that there is no possibility that the six missing people were alive. The deceased Captain, Toyoda Noriyuki, is also being investigated on the same charges as Katsurada.
Regarding the arrest more than two years after the accident, Wakasa stated, “Compared to accidents on land, there is less evidence at sea and investigations take longer. It is inevitable that it took two years.” He speculated that the arrest was made to prevent denial of the allegations or collusion with those involved, which would amount to destruction of evidence.