Onishi may be a witness in the case, however, which could make it difficult for the Navy to allow such a move. The United States has already invited a flag officer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force to be an adviser to the proceedings. Another Japanese request, the recovery of the nine missing bodies, is proving difficult to fulfill, Navy officials admitted Monday. Navy officials said there was still no sign of any bodies on the fishing vessel after three days of search operations. The Navy's remote-controlled submersibles searching the boat have been unable to go inside the ship, which is resting on the ocean floor 2,000 feet below the surface.
Officials believe at least some of the fishermen's bodies are still aboard.
Adm. Thomas Fargo released the names of the 16 civilians aboard the Greenville at press conference on Saturday. The visitors included two from Kansas, two from Massachusetts, eight from Texas, two from Hawaii and two from Colorado. Two of the 16 were at control positions when it surfaced under the Ehime Maru. That affiliation, which seems especially awkward after what happened to the Japanese fishing boat, was not helped by the further disclosure that the group's ride was sponsored by retired Adm. Richard Macke. At least a third of the submarine's guests were Texas oil and gas people.