The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Shiretoko search finds bones, belongings
SHARI, Hokkaido — Police found what appeared to be several human bones on Aug. 18 on the western tip of Hokkaido’s Shiretoko Peninsula during an intensive search for people still missing a er the sinking of the Kazu I sightseeing boat in April, the Hokkaido prefectural police said.
e police plan to carry out DNA tests to determine any connection with the accident.
e search — conducted on the shoreline near Keikichi Bay by a team of about 25 people — also found childand adult-sized sneakers, a hat, a key chain and a set of keys, among other items.
Checks will be made to determine if the items belonged to Kazu I passengers.
Originally scheduled to begin on Aug. 16 — four months a er the accident — the search was moved up to Aug. 18 a er local shermen found what appeared to be a human skull in Keikichi Bay on Aug. 14.
Brown bears frequent the tip of the peninsula, so the police dra ed in hunters before conducting the search on foot.
e 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters also conducted a search on Aug. 18 of the coastal area of the peninsula and found several bone-like objects and a black bag. (Aug. 20)