Seiichi Katsurada, the president of Shiretoko Yuransen, was arrested by the Japan Coast Guard on September 18 for professional negligence related to the sinking of the Kazu I sightseeing boat off Hokkaido's Shiretoko Peninsula in April 2022, which resulted in 20 deaths and six individuals still missing. The boat sank due to an unlocked hatch that allowed seawater to flood the vessel amid bad weather. Investigations revealed that Katsurada had previously cut costs by terminating experienced crew members and appointed himself to safety and operations roles without adequate qualifications. The Japan Transport Safety Board's report indicated that poor oversight and negligence contributed to the disaster. The boat departed despite adverse weather conditions, and the vessel lost contact shortly before sinking. Katsurada has publicly apologized to the victims' families, claiming the captain bore responsibility for the vessel's inspection.