It is with a heavy heart that I express my most sincere regret to the Japanese people and most importantly, to the families of those lost and injured in the collision between the USS Greeneville and the Ehime Maru. I know that the accident has caused unimaginable grief to the families of the Ehime Maru's missing students, instructors and crew members, to the Uwajima Fisheries High School, to Ehime Maru Captain Hisao Onishi, to the Uwajima city communities, and to all of the Japanese people. No words can adequately express my condolences and concern for those who have lost their loved ones. I too grieve for the families and the catastrophic losses that the families have endured.

The investigation that is about to begin at Pearl Harbor hopefully will resolve the questions and uncertainties surrounding this tragedy. It is my most sincere desire to determine the truth about what happened so that such a disastrous accident never again occurs. Such actions must be taken to preserve the honor of those who lost their lives, the honor of their families, my family's honor, the honor of the Greeneville crew and the honor of our two nations.