World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Doshisha apologizes over fatal Okinawa school trip boat accident
Two people, including 17-year-old student Tomoka Takeishi, died when two boats capsized off Henoko in Okinawa during a school trip in March.
The other person who died was a 71-year-old boat captain, and students were also injured.
On October 30, Doshisha held its first public news conference since the accident and apologized to Takeishi's family, injured students and others affected.
The school group said it took responsibility and that a review committee would examine the educational content and help guide improvements.
Its chairman said the trip's peace education had been one-sided and should be reviewed, and that teaching should include multiple perspectives.
Takeishi's parents said the seven-and-a-half-month silence left them feeling uneasy and empty, and that one news conference could not make up for missed explanations.
The chairman said he would step down as chair after the committee reports and improvement plans are under way, but intends to remain the group's president to work on education reform.
Doshisha apologized for a fatal boat accident during a school trip off Henoko, Okinawa, at a news conference in Kyoto on October 30.
The accident in March killed Doshisha International High School student Tomoka Takeishi, 17, and a 71-year-old boat captain.
Doshisha board chairman Eiji Hatta said the institution took responsibility and apologized to the dead student’s family, injured students and others affected.
Hatta said the school should review what he described as one-sided peace education and teach students multiple perspectives.
Takeishi’s parents said the long silence before the news conference left them with a deep sense of discomfort and emptiness.
- Who
- Doshisha, which operates Doshisha International High School, apologized. The accident killed student Tomoka Takeishi, 17, and a 71-year-old boat captain.
- What
- Two small boats capsized during a school trip, killing two people; Doshisha later held a news conference and apologized.
- When
- The accident happened in March 2026. Doshisha held the news conference on October 30, about seven months later.
- Where
- The boats capsized off Henoko, in Nago, Okinawa; the news conference was held in Kyoto.
- Why
- Not stated
Doshisha
Takeishi's parents
Explanation for delay
Doshisha
Hatta said the institution had spent time on necessary internal discussions and denied that it intended to wait for public attention to fade.
Takeishi's parents
The parents said the institution’s silence through several important milestones caused an inexpressible sense of discomfort and emptiness.
Two boats capsized off Henoko during a Doshisha International High School trip, killing student Tomoka Takeishi and a 71-year-old captain.
The parents cited the education ministry's position as one of several milestones when the school should have explained its actions.
An investigation report was released, according to the parents’ statement.
Doshisha held a news conference in Kyoto, apologized and discussed its review of the school trip and steps to prevent a repeat.
Takeishi’s parents issued a statement criticizing the institution’s silence and saying one news conference could not address the questions that had built up.
- Accident location
- Off Henoko, Nago, Okinawa
- Accident month
- March 2026
- Student who died
- Tomoka Takeishi, 17
- Other person who died
- Boat captain, 71
- News conference
- Kyoto, October 30, 2026
- Organizing institution
- Doshisha, operator of Doshisha International High School
4 sources
What people are saying
The institution takes seriously its responsibility for being unable to protect an irreplaceable life during a school trip to Okinawa.
It is a problem that one-sided peace education was conducted, and it should be reviewed.
deepest condolences
We feel an inexpressible sense of discomfort.