Newspaper articles of judo injuries resulting in death: 1984 – 2010 [30]
Two teachers of judo clubs charged; judo club member of Tonan Junior High School dies
The Asahi Shimbun, Nara
December 10, 1998
A second year student at Tonan Junior High School in Nara, Takanori Morishita (14), fell unconscious during joint training with Tenri Junior High School judo club at their dojo (training hall) in August and died the next day. He was the captain of the judo club. The First Investigation Division of Nara Prefectural Police and Tenri Police filed charges on Dec. 9 against the former head of the judo club and teacher (29) at Tonan Junior High School on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death and use of violence, and the head of the judo club and teacher at Tenri Junior High School on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death.
According to the investigation, the joint practice started at 9:00 am on August 18, the second day of the program. After randori (free sparring) with a student of Teri Junior High School, Takanori fell unconscious and collapsed around 10:40. He died the following afternoon of multiple organ failure due to heat stroke. The two teaches did not allow him to rest. When he tried to rest because he was tired the former teacher of Tonan Junior High School kicked his bottom to make him continue training.
The former teacher voluntarily retired at the end of October.
District Court drop charges against two teachers; second year junior high school student died after judo practice
The Yomiuri Shimbun
July 17, 1999
A second year male student (14) of Tonan Junior High School in Nara city, who was a member of the judo club, fell unconscious during randori (free sparring) in a joint practice session with Tenri Junior High School in August last year. He died the next day of multiple organ failure due to heat stroke. The Nara District Court dropped charges some time before July 16, which were filed against the former teacher (28) of Tonan Junior High School and the teacher (30) of Tenri Junior High School on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death along with other charges. The district court did not state the reason.
The investigation by the prefectural police indicated that the injury occurred during the joint judo practice at Tenri Junior High School around 10:40 am on Aug. 18. While the two teachers were responsible for managing the health of students, they made the student who complained of ill health continue training. When he collapsed during randori the teacher kicked his bottom. On June 14, Nara city government agreed to pay the parents 49 million yen, indicating that the former teacher clearly was negligent and that the school was responsible. Nara and the district court had different views on the matter.
