Henoko Boat Tragedy Raises Questions Over Safety and 'Peace Education'

A tragic accident occurred off the coast of Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, when two small boats carrying high school students capsized. The boats were participating in a non-government "peace education" program.

Two people, a student and the captain, died.

The two small boats capsized. They were operated by the "anti-heliport base council," a group that has been staging protests against the relocation of a US military base in Okinawa.

No one can say that safety measures were adequate. A thorough investigation is needed to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated. It should identify the specific issues that led to this tragedy, including the school's response,

Warnings Ignored, Tragedy Unfolds

The accident occurred shortly after 10:00 AM on March 16. Eighteen second-year students from Doshisha International High School in Kyoto Prefecture were divided between two boats as part of a "peace education" program during a school field trip.

Their destination was off the coast of Henoko City. Specifically, they were heading to a site where construction has been underway to relocate the United States Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base to Henoko. Currently, the base is located in Ginowan City, an urban part of Okinawa Prefecture.

According to the Japan Coast Guard, the incident occurred outside the restricted access zone off Henoko.

The two vessels capsized in succession due to high waves, resulting in a tragic accident that claimed the lives of a female student and the captain. It also left more than a dozen others injured.

A high-surf advisory had been issued at the time. And two Japan Coast Guard vessels were reportedly warning boats in the area.

Suspicions of professional negligence resulting in endangerment of life, as well as professional negligence resulting in death or injury, have been raised.

The Japan Transport Safety Board has launched an investigation.

Safety Sacrificed to Activism?

It is questionable whether the decision to set sail was appropriate. While the vessels occasionally carried passengers separate from their involvement in protest activities, the two that capsized were not registered as businesses under the Maritime Transport Act.

Why were students allowed on board such vessels? The school plans to establish an independent committee to investigate the cause. However, the central question remains whether adequate safety measures were in place to protect the students to begin with.

Likewise, the school's stance that having students board a protest boat constitutes "peace education" is open to scrutiny.

The US base relocation to Henoko is a government policy based on a Japan-US agreement. Therefore, the school's "peace education" activity raises concerns about whether the program departed from the political neutrality required of education.

Doshisha International High School and the Kyoto Prefectural Government, which oversees it, need to examine this matter thoroughly. At the same time, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology should provide clearer guidance.

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Enforcing Safety Measures

In the waters around the site, activists opposed to the Henoko relocation have been staging intense protests using small boats. Dangerous behavior has frequently been observed, including attempts to enter restricted zones around the base despite Coast Guard warnings.

There are likely issues with Okinawa Prefecture's response as well. Given past incidents in which protest boats have capsized near the site, the risks should have been clearly recognized.

Governor Denny Tamaki, too, must not ignore dangerous protest activities. The Okinawa prefectural government must also take concrete steps to strengthen safety measures.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

(Read this article in Japanese)