national

7 dead in water-related accidents across Japan

15 Comments

Seven people died, two were seriously injured and one other remains missing after water-related accidents across Japan on Sunday.

In Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, a 7-year-old girl was playing in the Kushida River when she got into difficulties and drowned at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, Fuji TV reported. She had been at the river with her family for a BBQ.

In Hita, Oita Prefecture, the body of a 75-year-old man who had gone fishing at the Tsurugawachi River was found. In Nara Prefecture, in the town of Yoshino, a 56-year-old man died in the Yoshino River, police said.

Water-related deaths also occurred at bathing beaches, including a 32-year-old man in Shika, Ishikawa Prefecture, a 62-year-old man in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, and another man in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture.

In addition, a 65-year-old man who was skin diving off the coast of Kagawa Prefecture near the city Sanuki drowned.

Elsewhere, a 6-year-old boy was washed away by strong currents in the Sagami River in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, and was in a state of cardiac arrest, police said.

In Shiga Prefecture, a man operating his motor boat on Lake Biwa fell overboard and was still missing on Monday morning.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

15 Comments
Login to comment

I have asked so many people to go to the beach with me, but most tell me they cannot swim. Odd for an island country.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, a 7-year-old girl was playing in the Kushida River when she got into difficulties and drowned at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, Fuji TV reported. She had been at the river with her family for a BBQ.

Yeah right, difficulties, like the parents not keeping an eye on their daughter. Sadly cases like this happen every year during the summer months, most are totally preventable, but like with too many parents, they let their kids play alone, and the child ends up paying for it with their life.

-4 ( +4 / -7 )

Its either heat or water - difficult to stay safe.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yubaru: agree 100%! We're going to be getting this story daily for the rest of the summer. People never learn.

-4 ( +5 / -8 )

In my time here I haven't seen any lifeguards on duty at beaches....

0 ( +4 / -3 )

Yeah right, difficulties, like the parents not keeping an eye on their daughter. Sadly cases like this happen every year during the summer months, most are totally preventable, but like with too many parents, they let their kids play alone, and the child ends up paying for it with their life.

Not just in Japan unfortunately... happens everywhere... distracted parents, kids and water... sadly more common than we'd like to think.

2 ( +5 / -2 )

I don't know if it is because they report it more here in Japan or what but every year people die from water related accidents or heatstroke but generally it always seems preventable. Japanese citiies are doing pointless campaigns constantly. So how abou instead of complaining about foreigners with Tattoos, music or having fun on the beach they warn of the dangers of heatstroke and give some common sense water safety tips to a majority of people who seem to miss these events happening yearly in Japan during the summer months.

1 ( +4 / -2 )

Only seven in one day? The numbers are going down. Good job Japan!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I always get told I worry too much by my J friends and family but for me these things are just logical percautions not worry.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Sure get tired of the "I told you so" folks. Every year, yet! Such amazing wisdom...

At least there has not been the obligatory "RIP."

Yet.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I don't know if it is because they report it more here in Japan or what but every year people die from water related accidents or heatstroke but generally it always seems preventable.

Report it more. All of the major newspapers in Japan have branch offices in just about every prefecture. Further Japan has in effect a national police force. In the US, everything is local. The New York Times is not going to report on a drowning in LA unless it is a celebrity.

Further, you don't have other things to compete with this kind of news such as gangland killings.

Very local events get reported on national news. I've seen car crashes in Fukuoka reported on Tokyo news. That just does not happen in the US unless the accident is horrific or scores of cars are involved.

In my time here I haven't seen any lifeguards on duty at beaches.…

No idea how you could manage that. In season beaches have numerous life guards some foreign usually from Australia. My older child was even rescued by one. Except for surfers beach use in Japan is very seasonal. Off season you won't see any lifeguards.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

In my time here I haven't seen any lifeguards on duty at beaches....

They're only on duty at some beaches during the summer

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Lots of local news in my area goes unreported anywhere. Car accidents on route six, deaths by heat stroke or suspicious circumstances. Some are, but many are not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They're only on duty at some beaches during the summer

you should make that, very few beaches.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@ Hunter Brumfield "Sure get tired of the "I told you so" folks. Every year, yet! Such amazing wisdom..." Guess that was partly directed at me, if the cap fits and all that. All my point is is that when i grew up we learned about the consequences of our actions. But in Japan its seems that there are not enough consequences a bow will get you out of nearly anything. And hence a mindset that does not promote critical and logical thinking. Dont mean to J bash but this is the hardest thing for me raising a kid here as i pride myself on my own logic and integrity all of which have come from learning from the consequence of my actions and feel like im loosing a battle to pass this on to my little man.

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences. Robert Green Ingersoll

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites