Three fishermen dead after spiny lobster boat fails to return in Nichinan

Three men died following an incident involving a fishing boat in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The Nango Fishery Cooperative reported at approximately 7:50 a.m. on September 3, 2026, that the Shintokumaru, a 0.9-ton vessel engaged in spiny lobster fishing, had failed to return to port.

Following a search by the Miyazaki Coast Guard and the fishery cooperative, the three crew members were discovered at sea off Sotoura Port. All three men, aged between 73 and 82, were confirmed dead at a local hospital. Reports indicate that the men were not wearing life jackets at the time of discovery. At the time of the incident, waves were measured at 1 meter with swells of 1.5 meters.