By TETSUHIRO TOYOSHIMA/ Staff Writer
May 9, 2022 at 19:04 JST
SHARI, Hokkaido--Nearly 60 people from all over Japan visited a gymnasium here on May 8, the last day of the Golden Week holidays, to pay their respects to the victims of a deadly tour boat sinking.
More than two weeks have passed since the tour boat, the Kazu I, sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido. The bodies of the 14 victims that have been found were placed in the gymnasium before being returned to their families.
Twelve people remain missing.
"I was really shocked and speechless. I just hope (the missing people) will be found soon,” said a 30-year-old man from Tokyo.
He said he took part in a sightseeing boat tour in Shari last year.
Although the boat he took was not operated by Shiretoko Pleasure Boat, the company that ran the ill-fated cruise, “It could've happened to me," he said.
Visitors laid flowers in the hopes that such an act would help comfort the bereaved families, even if only slightly. About 500 bouquets of flowers have been laid so far.
“Each of them must have had a lot of fun in life,” said Sanae Kishida, 75, from Hakodate, Hokkaido.
She visited the gymnasium with her son, who lives in the Utoro district of Shari.
“We hope the remaining 12 people will be returned to their loved ones as soon as possible,” she said.
Hiroaki Tono, 61, from Kitami, Hokkaido, and who works as an aircraft mechanic, also laid flowers.
“Tour boat operators also have people’s lives in their hands," Tono said. "Sloppy management like this is unacceptable.”
A stand to offer flowers was set up on April 25, two days after the accident, according to Shari officials.
Since the bodies that had been found were all returned to their families by May 2, the town temporarily closed the gymnasium that day.
However, the flower stand next to the entrance was moved indoors.
"The town would like to continue to support the families of the tour boat victims as much as possible," said Shari Deputy Mayor Masahiro Kita.
More people have been buying flowers since the end of April at a flower shop called Shiretoko Flower Sakai, near where the flowers are being laid. So far, 160 bouquets purchased there have been placed at the gymnasium.
A flower arrangement about 1 meter in diameter made by the store staff as they unwrapped delivered bouquets at the request of the town is displayed next to the flowers.
"I hope the flowers will bring some relief to the families and residents of our town,” said Masanao Sakai, 46, the owner of the flower shop.
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“We hope everyone will be able to return to their loved ones as soon as possible,” reads one message card posted next to where flowers are laid on May 8 in Shari, Hokkaido. (Tetsuhiro Toyoshima)
