Funeral held for 2 fishermen lost in collision with destroyer

May 29 12:09 AM US/Eastern

CHIBA, Japan, May 29 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Adm. Keiji Akahoshi were among the mourners at a funeral Thursday for two fishermen who were lost after their small fishing boat collided with an MSDF destroyer in February.

Photo: Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba answers questions from reporters before attending the funeral of Haruo Kichisei, 58, and his son Tetsuhiro, 23. May 29 afternoon, Chiba Prefecture. Katsuura City.

MSDF Captain Ken Funato, who was the skipper of the 7,750-ton destroyer Atago at the time of the collision, also attended the service for the two fishermen -- Haruo Kichisei, 58, and his son Tetsuhiro, 23.

Kichisei's relatives, fellow fishermen and their kin bade farewell to the two during the service held at a funeral hall in their hometown of Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, about 100 kilometers east of Tokyo.

On May 20, the Japan Coast Guard declared them dead after more than three months had passed since they went missing in the Feb. 19 collision.

Photo: Funeral hall in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, about 100 kilometers east of Tokyo. May 29, morning.

Kichisei and his son were aboard the 7.3-ton fishing boat Seitoku Maru that sank after being hit by the Atago, which is equipped with the sophisticated Aegis air defense system.

They were not found despite a monthlong search by the Japan Coast Guard, the MSDF and fellow fishing boats.