Newspaper articles of judo injuries resulting in death: 1984 – 2010 [10]
Severe head injury during judo practice results in death of high school student
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun
July 14, 1990
A judo club member of Asake High School in Mie Prefecture lost consciousness when he hit his head violently on the mat after an opponent threw him during judo practice on July 13. He was taken to hospital but on July 14 at 3:43 am he died of subdural hematoma. The student is Yasushi Takahashi (15), a first year student of Asake High School and the son of Masaru Takahashi (44).
The investigation by the Yokkaichi North Police Station indicated that during the practice of kumite (hand grappling) with another first year student at the school dojo (training hall) at around 2:40 pm Yasushi was thrown with osoto-gari (large outer reap), fell down on his back and severely hit the back of his head. The practice had started from 1:30 pm and was attended by 11 members. The injury happened after the teacher had left the dojo to attend a meeting, leaving instructions to the club members about what to do during practice.
The police is interviewing the school to check if there were problems with the method of practice. Principal Okazaki of the high school said “The club teacher reported that Masaru Takahashi started judo in high school, but he could use techniques including break fall. The school is systematically conducting practice. There are no problems with the way we practice.”
