On January 15, DPJ Next Minister of Defence Shu Watanabe and Next Minister of Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Fukuyama issued the following comment regarding the collision between the Maritime Self Defense Forces transport vessel Osumi and a fishing boat.

Today, at approximately 8 am, offshore of Atatajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, the MSDF transport vessel Osumi collided with a private fishing charter boat, the fishing boat was overturned, and two people on board were seriously injured. We pray for the speedy recovery of the two injured persons, and express our sincere sympathy for all those who were injured and to their families.

It is truly regrettably that such an incident should have happened. The Ministry of Defense should cooperate fully with the investigations of the Japan Coastguard. As well as speedily investigating what measures were taken to avoid a collision at the time, verifying the initial rescue response, and investigating the causes of the accident, they should implement thorough safety management and measures to prevent a reoccurrence of such an incident.