By The Straits Times | Created at 2026-06-17 04:48:29 | Updated at 2026-06-19 15:23:34
2 days ago
TOKYO – The president of a tourist boat operator was found guilty on June 17 of professional negligence resulting in the deaths of 26 people on a vessel that sank off Hokkaido in 2022.
The Kushiro District Court sentenced Seiichi Katsurada, 62, to five years in prison. Katsurada’s defence team argued he was not guilty of the charge as he could not have foreseen the sinking.
The 19-ton Kazu I sank on April 23, 2022, during a cruise around the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site on Japan’s northern main island.
Presiding Judge Takeo Mizukoshi said Katsurada “could have foreseen an obstacle to safe operations” as bad weather was forecast on the day of the cruise, adding that his failure to cancel it led to the sinking.
Prosecutors have argued Katsurada violated his obligations to exercise due care by allowing the boat’s sailing despite strong wind and wave forecasts. KYODO NEWS
