Bereaved families sue operator over 2022 deadly boat accident off Hokkaido

The building housing the Sapporo District Court and the Sapporo High Court. - Photo: Yomiuri Shimbun file

SAPPORO, (Japan): Bereaved families of victims of an accident caused by the Kazu I sightseeing tour boat off Hokkaido in 2022 sued the boat’s operator and its president for damages on Wednesday (July 3).

In the lawsuit filed with Sapporo District Court, the plaintiffs, including the 29 family members of 14 passengers of the sunken boat, are seeking some ¥1.499 billion in damages from Shiretoko Yuransen, the boat’s operator based in the Hokkaido town of Shari, and its president, Seiichi Katsurada, 61.