Capsizing off Henoko: Peace Education Lacked Both Safety and Neutrality

Editorial

16:16 JST, May 23, 2026

Extracurricular school activities are supposed to be conducted under the premise that they are safe and appropriate. It must be concluded that neither principle was followed in this case. The lessons from the accident, which claimed the life of a student with a bright future, must be put to use.

The accident involved the capsizing of boats carrying students from Doshisha International Senior High School in Kyoto Prefecture on a study trip off the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of two people. Regarding this accident, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry called on the prefectural government and the school operator to take corrective action, saying, “the content of the study trip was highly inappropriate.”

The ministry cited that the school failed to properly manage safety and that its educational content was “biased toward a specific viewpoint or perspective,” thereby violating the Basic Law on Education, which prohibits political activities. This is said to be the first time the ministry has determined a violation of the law over the issue of political neutrality.

According to the ministry, the school had not conducted a preliminary inspection prior to boarding, and failed to have supervising teachers board the boats that ultimately capsized. They failed to anticipate the poor weather conditions or the potential for an accident. Notably, it was a student who called the regional coast guard headquarters when the boats overturned.

The details of the study trip were decided at a faculty meeting and carried out under the principal who held responsibility for it. It must be said that the school completely disregarded the dangers of a program that involved going out to sea by boat. The lack of governance is profound.

This accident has also cast a spotlight on the validity of the trip’s educational content.

The boats the students boarded were vessels used for protest activities by a group opposing the relocation of the U.S. military’s Futenma Air Station to Henoko. In past study trips, guidebooks provided to students reportedly included statements from protesters urging participation in sit-ins.

Although the students were taught the views of the Okinawa prefectural government, which opposes the relocation project, other perspectives and viewpoints were not sufficiently covered. It is believed that the content had not been properly explained to the students or their parents and guardians.

Regarding the Henoko relocation, the U.S. and Japanese governments have their own stances, and residents do not all hold the same view. Teaching only a specific view cannot be considered appropriate. The school should have easily foreseen that this kind of approach would draw criticism of being biased.

The government filed a criminal complaint against the captain who died on suspicion of violating the Marine Transportation Law on the grounds that the boat was unregistered. It is also alleged students were allowed to steer before the capsizing. As well, the responsibility of the captains and others involved is heavy.

In this case, the government has questioned the political neutrality of a specific school in accordance with the Basic Law on Education. There is no doubt that the study trip was fraught with problems.

However, if this kind of approach is abused, it could stifle educators, making it impossible to provide a rich and unique education. The application of the law should be restrained.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23, 2026)