• Two boats with 21 passengers capsized off Henoko, Okinawa.
• A 17-year-old student and the captain of one boat confirmed dead.
• Students were part of a peace education program, not protesting.
• Investigation underway into the cause of the accident.
• Okinawa is home to many U.S. military personnel, raising local concerns.

On Monday, two boats carrying 21 people capsized off the coast of Henoko, Okinawa, resulting in two fatalities. Among those aboard were 18 high school students from Kyoto participating in a peace education program, with 10 on the Heiwa Maru and eight on the Fukutsu. The Japan Coast Guard reported that both the captain of the Fukutsu and a 17-year-old female student were pronounced dead after rescue efforts successfully retrieved all individuals from the water, according to SCMP, LA Times, and CBS News.

The tragic incident occurred around 10 a.m. about half a mile east of Henoko. Coast guard officials noted that while a wave advisory was active at the time, conditions were not particularly rough, and there was no evidence of a collision between the boats. The cause of the capsizing is currently under investigation by coast guard authorities, as reported by SCMP, LA Times, and CBS News.

Henoko has been a focal point for activists opposing the U.S. military base relocation. Despite this, local officials confirmed that the students were not part of any protest during their observation activity. The broader context involves ongoing local grievances about safety and environmental impacts connected with the U.S. military's presence, as highlighted by SCMP, LA Times, and CBS News.