Noboru Sakashita (center), captain of the fishing boat arrested by Russian officials in August, returns to Nemuro port in Hokkaido on Oct. 2. AP PHOTO

Transport Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba said Japan would press demands that Russia also hand over the man's fishing boat to investigate the shooting, which took place in waters claimed by both countries and sparked recriminations from both sides.

"There is a possibility that bullet holes and other evidence may be left on the boat, which would be crucial evidence to get the clear picture of the shooting," Fuyushiba said.

Noboru Sakashita was handed over Oct. 2 on a Japanese boat in northern waters between the two countries.

Both countries maintained that Sakashita's boat was in their own territorial waters when Russian guards opened fire on Aug. 16.

Russian officials said their coast guard fired a warning shot after the fishing boat failed to heed orders to halt, and that the shot accidentally killed the fisherman.

Russia released the two other surviving crewmen in late August but held Sakashita for prosecution, accusing him of poaching and illegally crossing an international border.

Moscow complained in the wake of the shooting of repeated violations by Japanese fishing trawlers of Russian waters. Tokyo protested Russia's response to the alleged poaching as too extreme and demanded that the officials responsible for the shooting be punished.

A Russian court last month convicted Sakashita of poaching and fined him over ¥2.2 million.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 7, 2006
(C) All rights reserved