The U.S. Navy's No. 2 officer has delivered a personal apology from President George W. Bush to Japan over the sinking of a Japanese training trawler that left nine people dead.
Special Envoy Admiral William J. Fallon told Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori that the United States accepted full responsibility for the tragedy and would make "utmost efforts" to meet Japanese demands to raise the Ehime Maru from the ocean bed.
Relations have been strained by the February 9 accident in which the USS Greeneville surfaced suddenly, crashing into the Ehime Maru and sinking it in minutes. Nine people, including four schoolboys were left missing and presumed dead.
"I sincerely and humbly request - on behalf of the United States government, the United States Navy and the American people - that the government and people of Japan accept our apology for the tragic loss of the Ehime Maru," Fallon said on his arrival.
Admiral Fallon delivered to Mr Mori a personal letter from Bush in which he said he was saddened and voiced "apologies and deep regret" for the accident.
"It is important that the two countries continue to make efforts in the U.S.-Japan alliance," Mr Mori replied, indicating that Japan wanted to prevent further fallout from the tragedy.
The U.S. envoy will meet families of the missing Wednesday and is to leave Japan on March 1.