Zhan Qixiong, who had been held by Japanese authorities since September 8, arrived safely early September 25 morning in Fuzhou, the capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, according to Xinhua.

The captain left Japan with officials from China's Foreign and Agriculture ministries.

"We decided to suspend the charges in consideration of the Japan-China relationship," said the Japanese prosecutor in the case.

In China, the captain's wife, Chen Tingting, said she was thrilled.

"We are so happy, we are just really very happy to hear the news," she said. His home is Jinjiang city, in Fujian.

The captain was arrested off the disputed Diaoyu Islands, in the East Sea, after his vessel crashed into two Japanese patrol boats. He was accused of obstructing Japanese public officers while they performed their duties.