On the night of the 19th, tragedy struck off the coast of Ōma, Aomori Prefecture, when the tuna fishing vessel Dai 28 Kōmyō Maru capsized, resulting in one crew member dead and another missing. The 4.9-ton vessel, belonging to the Ōma fishing cooperative, lost contact after returning from fishing and failed to arrive at its scheduled time.
According to Aomori Coast Guard officials, the distress signal was received around 8 p.m. after the fishing cooperative reported the vessel's failure to return by the expected time. The missing crew included Captain Ryoichi Fujieda, 70, and Yoshinori Sudō, 55, who was later confirmed dead after being rescued from the sea.
Search and rescue operations began immediately following the report of the missing boat. A private vessel discovered Sudō drifting approximately three kilometers east-northeast of the Ōma Lighthouse, wearing a life jacket, but sadly, he had lost consciousness. He was transported to Ōma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Efforts to locate Fujieda continued throughout the night, with authorities using multiple vessels including patrol ships from the Aomori Coast Guard, but adverse weather conditions hindered progress. The situation was exacerbated by strong winds of about 7 meters per second and wave heights of around 1 meter, with water temperatures recorded at 11 degrees Celsius.
According to reports, the last known position of the Dai 28 Kōmyō Maru was near Bentenjima around 6:43 p.m. on the 19th. It was later found capsized, with its hull visible, but the situation worsened, leading rescue teams to lose sight of the ship shortly after.
On the 20th, Aomori Coast Guard confirmed the discovery of the capsized vessel around noon, about 17 kilometers southeast of its last known position. Despite identifying it as likely being the Dai 28 Kōmyō Maru, harsh weather prevented closer inspection of the wreck and the assessment of any damage.
Locals expressed shock at the incident, particularly since Fujieda was well-known for his fishing capabilities, having achieved record prices for his catch at the Toyosu Market. Notably, he famously caught a 278-kilogram bluefin tuna sold for 333,600,000 yen during the 2019 New Year auction.
Mayor Naofumi Nozaki of Ōma expressed his deep concern about the incident, highlighting his close relationship with the captain and hoping for positive news. He stated, "I cannot put it to words. We just pray he is safe."
Rescue operations continue, with the Coast Guard deploying aerial search teams and divers as weather conditions improve. Local fishermen and volunteer groups are also scouring the coastline, hoping to find any signs of Fujieda.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks inherent to fishing activities, particularly under difficult weather conditions, and the community stands united, praying for the safe return of Captain Fujieda as the search efforts persist.
