Doshisha University faces criticism over privacy breach in Henoko accident press conference

Doshisha University is facing intense scrutiny following a press conference regarding a March 2026 shipwreck off Henoko, Okinawa, which resulted in the deaths of high school students. During the briefing, Eiji Hatta, chairman of the Doshisha educational corporation, and Hiroshi Shukyu, principal of Doshisha International High School, disclosed the private address of a deceased student's family.

Doshisha officials explained that they mistakenly believed the address was public knowledge because the family had made calls for grave visits on the platform Note and because school officials had visited the family home. The institution later requested that media outlets delete the information, an unusual move after its own executives released it. Doshisha stated that no disciplinary actions against staff are currently being considered.

Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Yoshihiro Seki, commented on the briefing, stating that he does not believe sufficient explanations were provided. He emphasized the need for thorough verification regarding the incident and the school's accountability to the bereaved families and society. The school has established a third-party committee to investigate the neutrality and appropriateness of its educational content.