The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kyoshi Kaneko, announced an investigation into the operational practices of two protest boats involved in a fatal incident in Henoko, Okinawa, where a high school student and another individual drowned. The two boats, registered as a citizen group opposing the construction of a US military base in the area, were not registered under the Maritime Transport Law, which requires such registrations for commercial passenger transport. The ministry's inquiry will include voluntary interviews, documentation requests, and an assessment of whether the boats were conducting legitimate business operations.

The Maritime Transport Law mandates that any entity conducting passenger transport operations must register with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. If the boats were indeed found to be operating commercially without registration, they could face severe penalties, including imprisonment or fines. The absence of regulation raises significant concerns, particularly regarding safety and accountability in maritime operations, especially in a politically contentious area such as Henoko, which is traditionally fraught with protests against American military presence.

The protest boats, known as 'Heiwa Maru' and 'Fukutsu,' were primarily used for activities aimed at opposing the U.S. base construction from the sea. According to the citizen group that operates them, they received irregular requests for transportation from politicians and citizens, as well as occasional educational trips from schools. This tragic capsizing incident has prompted further scrutiny into the operational safety protocols and the possible need for regulation amidst ongoing tensions regarding military installations and civilian protests in Okinawa.