The Japanese coast guard has discovered the bodies of five fishermen following Thursday's collision between a trawler and a Brightoil aframax.
The AFP news agency said the bodies were found inside the capsized fishing vessel off Shimane.
The search and rescue operation was continuing on Friday.
Four crew were saved on Thursday, but another seven remain missing.
The 115,000-dwt tanker Brightoil Lucky (built 2009) was heading from China to Russia at the time of the accident.
