Newspaper articles of judo injuries resulting in death: 1984 – 2010 [9]
Second year junior high school student hits head during judo practice in Nagoya; dies one week later
The Asahi Shimbun
April 24, 1990
The Nagoya City Board of Education revealed on Apr. 23 that Tetsuhiro Mizoguchi (13), a second year student of Imaike Junior High School in Nagoya, died after hitting his head during judo practice.
The City Board of Education stated that five 2nd and 3rd year students of the after-school judo club started practice at the dojo (training hall) of the school on Apr. 14, Saturday, at 1:00 pm. Around 4:40 pm, when two members coupled to mutually apply techniques, Tetsuhiro was thrown by a third year student who used tai-otoshi (body drop) technique by swinging up a leg. He fell on the tatami mat on his head.
The teacher untied his obi (belt) to help him rest, but he gradually lost consciousness. At around 5:00 pm he was taken to the Red Cross Nagoya Daini Hospital by ambulance. He was diagnosed with acute subdural hematoma and brain contusion with no external injuries. He was operated in the evening and received treatment for a week. On Apr. 22 at around 1:00 am he died.
Tetsuhiro Miaoguchi had 1st Kyu while the opponent had 1st Dan.
Second year junior high school student dies from judo injury in Nagoya; report delayed
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun
April 24, 1990
A second year student of Imaike Junior High School, Tetuhiro Mizoguchi (13), who was hospitalized for severely hitting his head during the judo club practice on Apr. 14, died on Apr. 22. The school had not officially reported the details of the injury and his death to the police.
According to the investigation by the Chigusa Police Station in Nagoya, Tetsuhiro practiced randori (free sparring) from 3:30 pm after warm-up exercises which started form 1:00 pm on Apr. 14 under the control of the teacher. When his opponent B, a 3rd year student used tai-otoshi (body drop) during practice, he severely hit the left side of the back of his head on the tatami. He had a surgery at the Red Cross Nagoya Daini Hospital and remained unconscious until 1:12 am on Apr. 22, when he died of brain contusion. The Chigusa Police Station received the report of the death around 4:00 pm on Apr. 22, which was after the funeral.
Principal Tanaka explained that they were so shaken up that they didn’t report it immediately.
The Nagoya City Board of Education said in the press conference on Apr. 23 that the students involved were expected to have acquired the break fall techniques as they had 1st Kyu and 1st Dan, and that there were no special flaws in the way they practiced. Moreover they stated, “Since judo is a martial art, serious injury is always possible. Notification will be issued through the principals’ association that techniques such as break fall need to be strengthened and that serious injuries must be reported to the police.”
