On December 12, Kyodo News announced the retraction of an article relating to a diving accident that occurred in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, where individuals were injured. The article, initially published on December 10, mistakenly reported the name of a diving shop that was not involved in the incident, leading to confusion and potential harm to the shop's reputation.

The retraction was prompted by feedback from the unrelated shop whose name was incorrectly included in the article, which raised alarm over the incorrect association with the incident. In responding to the situation, Tsukasa Arita, the editor-in-chief at Kyodo News, issued a formal apology to the shop, its stakeholders, and readers for the mistake and committed to investigating the circumstances that led to the error in order to prevent future occurrences.

The underlying incident dates back to August 2024, when a 51-year-old male office worker died while participating in a trial scuba diving activity, and his 15-year-old son was rescued. The police had previously sent documents to the court regarding the operators of the diving business responsible for the incident, but the inaccuracies in Kyodo News's reporting raised questions about journalistic standards and the potential ramifications for the businesses mentioned. The incident highlights the crucial need for accuracy in reporting, particularly in sensitive matters such as accidents involving loss of life.