Overview

• At 11:52 a.m., sirens sounded, a bell tolled, participants observed a minute of silence, and the 63 victims’ names were read at Matsubara Sports Park in Otaki.
• The 2014 eruption killed 58 people and left 5 missing, the deadliest volcanic disaster in Japan since World War II.
• Bereaved families are challenging pre-eruption warning adequacy; the Tokyo High Court upheld dismissal in October 2024, and the case is now before the Supreme Court.
• Relatives continue personal searches on the mountain and run public awareness efforts to keep the lessons of the disaster alive.
• Otaki promotes tourism recovery alongside safety upgrades, with climber visits trending upward and many ascending the peak today to offer prayers.