Doshisha International High School cancels Okinawa trips after fatal Henoko accident

Doshisha International High School has announced it will cancel its school trips to Okinawa for the 2026 academic year following a fatal boating accident in Henoko. The incident, which occurred in March, involved the capsizing of two vessels during a school trip, resulting in the deaths of a 17-year-old student and a 71-year-old captain.

During a recent briefing for parents, the school stated that the two teachers involved in the trip, who have been criminally charged by the bereaved family for professional negligence resulting in death or injury, will be reassigned to roles that do not involve direct contact with students starting in the second semester.

At the meeting, parents expressed significant dissatisfaction after the school initially attempted to conclude the session without a question-and-answer period. Additionally, the school reported that another teacher involved in the Okinawa trip passed away on August 23, though no causal link between that death and the original accident has been established.