It will be one year in 20 days since a sightseeing boat sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, killing 6 people and missing 23 others. A memorial service is scheduled in the local town of Utoro, Shari, to pray for the victims and for tourism operators to renew their pledges to safety.
The cause of the sinking was determined to be a hatch with a defective fastener, and the 20st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters is continuing its investigation on suspicion of manslaughter in the course of business.