Boats carrying Kyoto students capsize off Okinawa, fatalities reported

On Monday, two boats carrying 21 people total capsized at Henoko Bay, Nago, a U.S. military base relocation site in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Officials said all of the passengers went into the water, and the captain of one of the boats and a female passenger perished. Additionally, two others were hurt; their injuries were not life threatening.

Rescuers aided people in the water. The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) said 18 of those who were on the boats were classmates from a high school in Kyoto. The boats were named the Heiwa Maru and the Fukutsu, carrying ten and eight students onboard, respectively.

The JCG stated that the case is under investigation.

== Sources ==

2 dead, including teen girl, after boats carrying students capsize near site of new U.S. military base in Japan — CBS News, AFP, March 16, 2026

Mari Yamaguchi. 2 dead after 2 boats carrying students capsize off US base construction site in southern Japan — ABC News, AP, March 16, 2026