The six Japanese who were killed and wounded during Wednesday's terrorist attack at a museum in Tunis were all passengers taking part in a cruise around the Mediterranean.
At the time, the tourists were visiting the famed Bardo National Museum in the Tunisian capital as part of an optional tour.
The Japan Tourism Agency said the six were among 112 Japanese participating in a 7-night/8-day cruise that was scheduled to visit ports in Spain, France and Italy as well as in Tunisia.
The cruise was organized by two Japanese travel agencies, Cruise Planet Co. and Best1.Com. The operators confirmed that the rest of the clients were safe.
The agencies said the tour allowed passengers to disembark to enjoy their free time or participate in optional tours.
Mediterranean cruises, which can be purchased for around ¥200,000 including airline tickets, have become popular with retirees because they can visit several places without worrying about their luggage, a Cruise Planet official said.
But some customers might cancel reservations because of the terrorist attack, which could cause the agency it to alter its list of destinations, the official said.
According to government sources, the three Japanese who were killed are Haruka Miyazaki, 22, her mother Chiemi, 49, both from Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, and Machiyo Narusawa, 66, of Arakawa Ward, Tokyo.
The three who were injured are Nobuko Yuki, 68, her daughter, Noriko, 35, both from Toshima Ward, Tokyo, and Kenji Amai, 75, of Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.
Noriko Yuki is a medical officer in the Ground Self-Defense Force. She was on a 13-day holiday from the anesthesiology division of Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital in Setagaya Ward, the sources said.
