Five Self-Defense Forces members died and one remains missing after their boat capsized off Tomakomai, Hokkaido, on Friday night, the local coast guard said Saturday.
The six men were among seven Ground Self-Defense Force members who were night fishing on a breakwater some 500 meters off the port of Tomakomai after setting off at around 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Seeing that the weather was deteriorating, the men attempted to leave the breakwater in a pleasure boat at about 10:30 p.m.
However, after six of the men got in the boat, it suddenly capsized, throwing all of them overboard.
The remaining man, who was still on the breakwater, immediately called the police. He was later safely rescued, according to the coast guard.
Five of the six men thrown overboard were pulled from the water before dawn but were later confirmed dead.
The search continues for the missing man.