While driving across the famous Kouri Bridge in Japan, which stretches 1960 m, I couldn't help but think about the drama that unfolded there back in 1947. This magnificent bridge connects Kouri Island in the village of Nakijin with Jagaji Island in the city of Nago, and was opened on February 8, 2005. At the time, it attracted attention as the longest bridge in the Okinawa prefecture. The emerald green-blue sea spreads out on both sides of the bridge, creating an almost surreal scene.
Before the bridge was constructed, the crossing between these two islands was done by boat. Two years after the end of World War II, during the period of post-war reconstruction, the ship Kouri Maru operated on this route, transporting passengers and goods. It was a wooden sailing vessel of traditional Japanese construction which was about 30 m long.
A tragedy occurred on October 1, 1947, during a regular voyage. On that day, the passengers were mostly women, children, students and teachers heading to the 'Nakijin Track and Field Meet'. Due to overcrowding and rough seas, at 7:40 am the ship capsized near the coast on the Nakijin side. During the chaos, most of the passengers managed to swim to shore or were rescued by fishermen who rushed to help them with their boats. Unfortunately, 10 people drowned.
The diving site is clearly marked with a buoy. The maximum depth is around 15m. The seabed is flat, covered with white sand. The visibility was excellent on my dive, and there were almost no currents. We descended along the anchor rope and slowly moved over the sand into the blue. Small formations of natural coral reefs with various marine life surrounded us. After a few minutes of diving, the low silhouette of the once-majestic ship began to emerge from the blue.
It is fascinating that the ship remains in one piece, meaning its hull has retained its shape. The masts are missing, but the wreck lies in an almost perfectly horizontal position—as if it were sailing into eternity. Naturally, after decades beneath the sea, Kouri Maru has become encrusted with coral and has practically merged with the reef, becoming home to many fish.
This diving site is highly recommended for divers who love shipwrecks and history - in this case, the history of Kouri Island. It is extremely rare to dive in saltwater and find a wooden ship that has been submerged for over 70 years and retained its original form, making this location a valuable dive site.
The Jikonhi monument commemorating the victims who perished in the Kouri Maru tragedy stands in Kouri Bridge Square. It can be reached by a short walk from Kouri Port.
For more information and diving at Kouri Maru, see: https://allbluedivers.com
Blog and photos by Janez Kranjc
Ivana and Janez
14th May 2025
