ASSOCIATED PRESS
The home of Katsuya Nomoto, one of four students
missing aboard the Ehime Maru, is seen at the center
behind fishing boats in Uwajima, Japan, the week
after the sub collision.

Akebono relays
sympathy letter to
Ehime prefecture

Kyodo News Service

MATSUYAMA, Japan >> Hawaii-born retired champion sumo wrestler Akebono today expressed sympathy on behalf of Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano to the people of Ehime prefecture, still mourning February's sinking of the fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru.

In a meeting with Ehime Gov. Moriyuki Kato, former yokozuna Akebono read out a message in English from Cayetano saying, "Our sincere sympathy and warmest aloha is extended to all those who are grieving over this calamity."

Akebono, 31, told Kato that he will encourage students of Uwajima Fisheries High School, to which the Ehime Maru belonged, in his visit to the school scheduled later today.

Akebono told Kato at the prefectural headquarters in Matsuyama that he was in Hawaii at the time of the Feb. 9 accident. The Ehime Maru sank during a training voyage after a collision with the U.S. submarine Greeneville.

Nine of the school ship's 35 crew members are presumed dead. The nine included four students of the school.

Akebono told Uwajima school officials last month that he hoped to cheer up the students. The school requested the visit to coincide with the beginning of the school year today.