COPY OF AIDE MEMOIRE GIVEN TO THE U.S. AMBASSADOR ALLISON
BY THE VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, OKUMURA
MARCH 27, 1954
The following data has been obtained as a result of investigations
conducted by the Japanese Government with regard to the Fukuryu Maru No.
5.
The course of the Fukuryu Maru No. 5, its movement and circumstances of
the accident as described hereunder are conclusions drawn from (1) statements made by the vessel's skipper, fishing master and other members of
the crew;
(2) entries in the ship's log~book and fishing records and
(3) meteorological conditions at the time of the accident as revealed from
the investigation by the Central Meteorological Observatory.
All dates
and hours given here are Japan Standard Time.
I.
Stricken Vessel:-
Name:
Fukuryu Maru No.
Type:
Fishing boat, 99.9 tons
Registration No.:
SO 2-893
Owner's name
and address:
Kakuichi Nishikawa
13-724, Yaizu, Yaizu-shi
Shizuoka Prefecture
Skipper's name
Hisakichi Tsutsui
and address:
II.
5
50, Ryoyashiki, Sakushima-Mura
Hazu-Gun, Aichi Prefecture
Number of crew:
23 persons
Content and kind
of cargo:
Tuna and other fish
Total 2,299.3 kan
Course and Movement of the Fukuryu Maru No. 5:1.
The Fukuryu Maru No. 5 left the port of Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, at 1130 hours on January 22 and headed south-eastward.
On
or about January 27, and from a position in the neighborhood of
Lat. 27936'N. and Long. 148°937'E. it shifted its course eastward.
It started fishing on February 3, at Lat. 26917 1/2'N.
and Long.
171930'E.
until February 12.
Fishing operation was made several times
Later, in order to fish in the neightborhood
of the Marshall Islands, the vessel changed its course and,
while fishing on the way, it reached on February 23, a position
in the proximity of Lat. 11911.3'N. and Long. 173933'E.
2.
After February 23, the vessel directed its course toward the
west and engaged in fishing operations.
On March 1, at approx-
imately 0115 hours it arrived at the position of Lat. 12°03 1/2'N.
and Long.
166°56 1/2'E. and started to set lines.
465
It completed