It has been five years since the ski tour bus accident that killed 15 people, including university students, in Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Bereaved families and locals visit the memorial monument near the site one after another and pray.
Five years ago, before dawn on January 15, 2016, a ski tour bus fell to the side of the road in Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture without being able to turn the curve, killing 15 people including university students and injuring 26 people. ..
On the 15th, five years after the accident, Yoshinori Tahara, who was the representative of the bereaved family and lost his second son Hiroshi (19 at the time), visited and handed flowers to the memorial monument, then put his hands together and prayed quietly. Was there.
On the 15th, other bereaved families will also gather and hold a memorial service together for the first time on the day of the accident.
In this accident, the president of the company that operated the bus and a former employee in charge of operation management were able to predict that a serious accident could occur, but guidance to drivers who are unfamiliar with driving large buses Documents were sent on suspicion of accidental fatal injury due to neglect, and we are still investigating whether the Nagano District Public Prosecutor's Office will prosecute.
In response to the accident, the audit system for bus companies has been strengthened, but due to the influence of the new coronavirus, private organizations in each region that provide patrol guidance have become stricter in operation, and are forced to take measures such as reducing the number of instructors.
In addition, the bereaved families are continuing to request the government to further strengthen safety measures, such as the ideal system for renewing licenses to drive buses, and are being asked again how to improve the safety of buses.
Yoshinori Tahara, Representative of the Bereaved Family Association "Renewed determination as a bereaved family"
Yoshinori Tahara, the representative of the Bereaved Family Association, said, "I also saw the bottom of the cliff where the bus fell near the memorial monument. The regret and sadness of the accident, my son. Thinking about the memories of having lived for 19 years and the 5 years that I was supposed to walk, I strongly thought that I should never cause such an accident again. I renewed my determination that there was something to be done. "
Naoki Ogi, Professor Emeritus of Hosei University, also prays at the scene
Naoki Ogi, an emeritus professor at Hosei University who lost four students in an accident, visited a memorial monument near the site before 11:00 am on the 15th and prayed with a bouquet.
Mr. Ogi said, "I thought I would be able to sort out my feelings a little more after five years, but it's more difficult than ever. Other students are active as members of society, but the time of the four who died remains the same. It's hard to see the pictures. I want to continue offering flowers so that this accident will not be weathered. "