Widow writes of family's loss

Advertiser Staff

The wife of Jun Nakata, a 33-year-old Japanese teacher who perished at sea on the Ehime Maru came forward yesterday to speak about the effect of the tragedy on her family.

Jun Nakata, left, was a 33-year-old instructor who was lost at sea with the Ehime Maru. His widow, Naoko Nakata, has released a statement. Advertiser library photos

Here is what she said:

Owing to this collision, our families' lives have changed greatly. My 5-year-old son, who used to go to kindergarten daily, has now quit and we had to move away from Uwajima because I have no relatives there. I had to move to my parents' home and now my son is at a new day-care center nearby.

Last night, my son said, "I want to go back to kindergarten, mom." My son, who never cried, wiped away his tears with his fists. This boy is innocent. That child of mine who loved his school is no longer there among his friends. He has to start from the beginning again in a new place.

His weak mother is crying together with her little boy. He said, "Mother, please don't cry and I won't cry anymore." Then he stood up and went to wash his face. I thought, I have to stop crying before my son finishes washing his face. But I couldn't stop crying even then.

My daughter was born just last May. My husband was very happy to have a little girl. He pampered and loved her so much. Every day he would take a bath with his children and sing to them. Now I hear nothing.

The little girl is learning to walk and saying "bye-bye" and "good afternoon." I hope to tell him all this. I should be happy about my daughter's growth but instead I'm overwhelmed with an empty feeling. It's because my husband is not here to celebrate it with me.

I watched Scott Waddle and his wife in the courtroom on television and he was laughing. Then his smile grew even bigger. Another day he made a comment saying he was proud of his submates, and I was angry about that. You may think I'm unable to accept any apology, the small human being that I am.

I'd like to take my husband's warm hands and walk with him. I'm sure he hopes to hold his children's hands.

Dear captain, I was meant to share every sadness and suffering with my husband. Your submarine sank him. You will share the burden of the accident. You said you will bring your sorrows to your grave. But my husband was sent to the grave without knowing what happened to him.

Dear captain, you blame the attorney for not coming to us sooner and not apologizing, and I suppose you think of it as a collective responsibility of your submates. I do not think you alone should be held responsible for the accident, but at least you and several others should be held responsible.

What I strongly hope is that (after) this accident of negligence, that you admit you took away the lives of the innocent nine, and that you act and speak accordingly.

Don't judge the demerits and the merits, and please explain why it happened. Figure out what you should have done and what you didn't do. Please reveal the cause of the accident, make an effort to prevent it from happening again and make proposals to that effect.

They say the submarine did not have an environment where the submates could speak up to their captain. You should let the Navy know that it was not an ideal environment, and unless you're absolutely sure, you should tell the Navy to make reforms to the "distinguished visitors" program (that allows civilians to ride on military vehicles).

You being the highest ranking officer of the submarine which took the lives of the nine should make these proposals. I feel strongly that you should, dear captain.

You will leave the Navy and I think someday address the public. When you do, you should speak the truth. You should answer all the questions and give out all the facts without making any deals, and make sure there are clear changes to prevent another incident like this one.

I'd like to tell my son and daughter someday that daddy's accident was a sad incident but that it made the Hawaiian ocean a safe place for all people around the world and ships like the Ehime Maru to come to Hawai'i. He taught us that safety and security is very important. We'll go to Hawai'i someday, the three of us."