The fatal school trip accident sparked scrutiny of safety lapses and the political neutrality of a "peace education" program run by a Kyoto high school.
Tomoka Takeishi who died in the Henoko boat accident on March 16. Her family is sharing information about her and the accident on Note, a Japanese publishing platform. (Screenshot from the family’s Note account)
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja met on October 17 with the parents of a student who died when two boats capsized off Henoko during a controversial study trip.
Tomoka Takeishi, 17, died in the March 16 accident, which sparked widespread criticism over safety failures and the political nature of the "peace education" program organized by Doshisha International High School in Kyoto Prefecture.
The two boats involved were operated by the Anti-Helicopter Base Council, a group opposed to relocating US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko.
Tomoka Takeishi and Hajime Kanai, the 71-year-old captain of one of the boats, died in the accident. Fourteen people were injured.
Safety Failures and Political Neutrality
A high-wave advisory was in effect at the time, and the vessels were not registered for commercial passenger transport. Subsequent reports also highlighted the group's history of accidents and legal violations, including overloading and vessel collisions.
The tragedy raised questions about whether the school had adequately assessed the risks and whether the program maintained the political neutrality expected of educational institutions.
Japan's education ministry later criticized the school's safety management and concluded that the program violated the Basic Act on Education.
Denny Tamaki, who was governor at the time of the accident, did not meet with the bereaved family. Koja, by contrast, expressed his support for the family and his determination to prevent a similar tragedy.
At the meeting, Tomoka Takeishi's father said, "Children from all over Japan come to Okinawa to learn, make many memories, and return home safely. I want to see this basic expectation reliably fulfilled."
Koja responded, "I hope to apply the lessons of this accident to the prefectural government's future work and strengthen safety management, with a firm determination to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again."
The council had supported Tamaki, who also repeatedly made statements that appeared to defend the organization.
Reflecting on the fact that Tamaki did not meet with the family while he was governor, Takeishi's father said, "I had hoped to speak with the prefectural authorities a little sooner. I had expected that to happen, so it was somewhat disappointing that it did not."
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Taisuke Nanjo, The Sankei Shimbun