Ehime Maru
response impressive,
envoy says

The departing Japanese consul
reflects on the tragedy

---

By Genevieve A. Suzuki
gsuzuki@starbulletin.com

Japanese Consul General Minoru Shibuya says he was worried that the relationship between Japan and the United States would have been disrupted by the sinking of the Ehime Maru by an American submarine.

"I was very much worried that the reaction in Japan, at first, was very emotional and very harsh. We were concerned that this might affect the overall relations between the United States and Japan, so I expected that the U.S. Navy would do as much as they can to satisfy the victims and the victims' families," said Shibuya, who is leaving next Thursday, ending more than two years as consul general in the islands.

But Shibuya said he does not think the accident damaged U.S.-Japanese relations. "I'm relieved that the Ehime Maru accident was settled without much bitter feelings on both sides, particularly on the side of Japan," he said.

On Feb. 9, 2001, the submarine USS Greeneville surfaced about nine miles south of Diamond Head and struck the fishing vessel Ehime Maru, which sank, killing nine people, including four 17-year-old students, two teachers and three crewmen.

One matter that remains unresolved is compensation for the victims' families, said Shibuya.

Lawyers representing both sides are in negotiations, Shibuya said. If the matter is not settled within two years, it will go through the U.S. court system.

"I hope this matter will be settled shortly," he said.

It cost the Navy $60 million to recover the Ehime Maru, move it to shallower waters where eight of the nine bodies and belongings could be recovered, and then move it to waters off Barbers Point to its resting place. "And with much difficulty, the Navy raised Ehime Maru and searched inside the vessel," Shibuya said. "I think that impressed the Japanese people and the families of the victims very much."

Shibuya said the $65,000 Ehime Maru memorial at Kakaako Park was also a good gesture. "The state and the city provided a very good place for that, and now many Japanese tourists are visiting that memorial," he said.

"It (the accident) rather strengthened the friendship between Hawaii and Japan, and Hawaii and the Ehime prefecture."

Because the consul general's duty is to handle relations between Hawaii and Japan, the decrease of Japanese tourists coming to Hawaii concerns Shibuya. He said the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and new competing destinations have hurt Hawaii's numbers.

"They go more to Asian countries like South Korea, China, Vietnam, so relatively the number of tourists visiting Hawaii has decreased," he said. "Hawaii should make more of an effort to attract Japanese tourists."

Shibuya said Hawaii's beaches, golf courses and shopping centers are tempting to the Japanese, but to really increase tourism, the islands need to diversify tourism further. "Maybe they can explore more opportunities for eco-tourism or for some hiking tracks along the beautiful beaches," he said.