Seiichi Katsura, president of Shiretoko Sightseeing Boat, testified for the first time in a civil trial on Tuesday regarding a fatal tourist boat sinking [1].
This testimony marks a critical phase in the legal battle as families of the victims seek to establish corporate negligence and secure financial restitution for the loss of life. The case centers on whether the decision to set sail despite hazardous conditions constituted a failure in safety leadership.
Katsura appeared before the Hokkaido District Court during oral arguments held on June 9 [1]. During the questioning, he addressed the tragedy that occurred off the coast of Shiretoko. "I have caused a truly terrible accident and I take it very seriously," Katsura said [1].
The civil suit was filed by the bereaved families of passengers who died in the April 2022 accident [4]. The plaintiffs are seeking more than 1.5 billion yen in damages [2] from both the operating company and Katsura personally. The lawsuit alleges that the decision to depart was negligent and directly contributed to the disaster.
The disaster resulted in the deaths of 26 people [4]. While the civil proceedings focus on compensation, the tragedy has also faced criminal scrutiny. Prosecutors in a separate proceeding sought a five-year prison sentence for the captain, stating that the attitude toward the value of human life was egregious [4].
Katsura's testimony is the first time the company president has been questioned in this specific civil venue. The court will now weigh his statements against the claims of the victims' families, and other evidence regarding the vessel's operational decisions on the day of the sinking [1].
“"I have caused a truly terrible accident and I take it very seriously,"”
The transition of this case into the civil testimony phase shifts the focus from criminal culpability to financial liability. By testifying that he takes the accident 'seriously,' Katsura acknowledges the gravity of the event, but the court must determine if this admission extends to legal negligence. The high damages sought reflect the scale of the loss and the perceived failure of safety protocols in Japan's tourism industry.
