The seventh trial session concerning the Shiretoko sightseeing boat accident took place on February 18 at the Kushiro District Court, where Seichi Katsurada, the president of the Shiretoko Sightseeing Boat company, faces charges of negligent homicide. On April 23, 2022, the sightseeing boat 'KAZU I' sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula, leading to 26 people dying or going missing. During the trial, a Coast Guard officer provided testimony about the day of the incident, stating that when he questioned the defendant about the departure decisions made for the boat that day, Katsurada's responses were vague, questioning if the communication regarding the departure had occurred via telephone or in person. The ambiguity of his response raised concerns for the officer, who found it strange that a person involved in such an important decision could not recall the specifics from that morning.

The defense argued that the departure was a 'conditional operation,' meaning they had confirmed the weather with the captain and intended to turn back before adverse conditions set in. However, the Coast Guard officer disputed the defendant's claims by stating that there was no mention from Katsurada that the 'KAZU I' was supposed to return to port in the morning. Moreover, when asked if there was any consideration of canceling the trip, Katsurada appeared to convey that he believed it was safe to proceed that morning.

The Coast Guard officer noted that there were no records or detailed memos from the questioning incident, as any information was only verbally reported to superiors and not formally documented. The Coast Guard's role at that time was focused on gathering information for rescue operations rather than conducting a formal investigation. The next hearing is scheduled for March 2, which will include three days of questioning for the defendant.