Family members and locals Thursday memorialized the deaths of two fishermen killed in a collision a year ago between a small fishing boat and a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer off Chiba Prefecture.
Local fishermen set to the sea to make offerings in memory of Haruo Kichisei and his son, Tetsuhiro, who were on the fishing boat, the Seitoku Maru, while their family held a memorial service in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, where the fishermen were based.
Adm. Kenjiro Handa, commandant of the MSDF headquarters of the Yokosuka District in Kanagawa Prefecture, also attended the service and pledged he would strive to prevent a recurrence.