Doshisha board chair to resign over fatal Okinawa boat accident
An external report, released last month, said the Doshisha school corporation breached its obligation to investigate the trip beforehand and plan it safely.
The chair of the Doshisha school corporation board, Eiji Hatta, plans to resign following a fatal boat accident that claimed the lives of one of its students and a boat captain. The incident occurred on March 16 off the coast of Okinawa Prefecture during a controversial peace-education program. A 218-page external investigation found that the school corporation had failed to investigate the activity thoroughly, plan the trip safely, and adequately inform students and parents about its content.
The investigation also revealed that teachers did not verify the boats' registration or boarding procedures, nor did they instruct students on using life jackets in an emergency. The school's failures, according to the report, were part of a broader lack of safety awareness. Tomoka Takeishi, a 17-year-old student, and boat captain Hajime Kanai lost their lives in the accident.
The family of Takeishi has filed a criminal complaint against several school officials and boat operators, including the principal. Doshisha Corporation has not commented on Hatta's planned resignation and has no current plans to hold a news conference on the matter.
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