Boat Safety in Japan: A Tragedy and Important Questions

Like many people in Japan and around the world, I was deeply saddened by the recent boating tragedy in Okinawa, where a 17-year-old student and a 71-year-old captain lost their lives. A number of you have reached out asking questions—especially in comparison to the La Vagabonde incident. These are very different situations. In this short video, I share a few immediate thoughts and explain why I’ll be releasing a longer video soon to clarify: the legal requirements for boats and captains in Japan what a weather advisory really means and what good seamanship looks like for everyone on board This topic is personal for me. I’m a sailor. I’m 71 years old. I’ve served on the board of a high school. And I’m a grandfather whose grandson goes on school trips. I’m also recording this while attending a conference on aging here in Tokyo—which adds another layer to how I think about responsibility and judgment. More to come soon. In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and all those affected.