The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism held a countermeasures headquarters meeting on the night of the 23rd after receiving a report that a sightseeing boat was flooded off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido and could not be contacted.
In this, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito said, "Since 4:30 pm when patrol vessels and aircraft arrived at the site sea area, we have been searching, but we have not found any ships, passengers or crew."
After that, he said, "On the morning of the 24th, we will dispatch the personnel of the countermeasures headquarters to the site. The Japan Coast Guard will give the highest priority to saving lives, and the Maritime Bureau will immediately conduct an audit of the tour boat operator." I was instructing.