Full of hope: Koji Murakawa (one of the victems) strikes a cheerful pose with his mother upon entering junior high school in Shiga Prefecture in April 2009.
COURTESY OF THE MARAKAWA FAMILY
I'm astonished by the way the Japanese Judo Federation treats the victims of judo teachers in this country.
Fact is that over the 27-year period 1983 to 2009, 108 students died as a result of judo accidents in Japanese junior and senior high schools (age range ca 12 to 18years)1 60% of them from brain injury. The mean
of four deaths per year is significantly higher than in any other school sport.
Note that these figures do not include deaths from accidents outside school such as in private judo clubs, so the total number of deaths in young people is higher still. There have also been a large number of serious injuries, many of which
have resulted in chronic higher brain dysfunction or persistent disturbance of
consciousness. It's outrageous that no `teacher` have been charged, on the contrary prosecutors cover-up the evidence protected criminals and dismiss cases.
In some cases where a judicial inquest panel concluded the dismissal was unreasonable, the prosecutors threw the case out for a second time.
Not a single incident has resulted in criminal prosecution there's only silence.
I am shocked in the nation where the cradle of judo stood, and is adored by every judo nation in the world actually let children die during sport practice. Last year two children under six years died, we always proclaimed sport is healthy for mind and body, but it seems obvious that we have to add:
“but only when given by responsible and educated sport teachers”.
The problem in Japan is however that the Japanese Judo federation does not have take the responsibility to developed any education program for Coaches, trainers and teachers; they didn’t even developed an code of conduct for coaches. It seems to me an act of arrogance what have lead to severe “judo accidents|” and for those of us who think accidents can happen I quote one of these `accidents`:
Yasuhiko Kobayashi's
15-year-old son had skipped judo practice.
According to Kobayashi, the boy's teacher was furious and stood waiting for him at the gates of his junior high school in Yokohama. The teacher forced the boy into the gym and made him grapple one on one. The former All Japan judo champion choked the boy until he lost consciousness.When the boy came to, the teacher choked him again until he went limp, and threw him to the floor with such force that he suffered severe internal bleeding in his brain, an injury known as an acute subdural hematoma.
And this is in my point of view a first-degree murder; this boy had no chance and was slaughtered by a psychopath without conscience.
While the All Japan Judo Federation remains silent on the issue, the head of the instruction department at judo's spiritual home, the Kodakan Judo Institute in Tokyo, has been unable to hide his concerns.
Writing in the August issue of Budo magazine, Mikihiro Mukai argues:
"Until now, the judo world has tried to hide things they perceive will be disadvantageous to them. But this trend will worsen the situation, even if we have many discussions about instruction methods, if there is even a single case of death or severe injury, that method is inadequate
"There may well be some unfortunate accidents, but we as judo instructors must work to eradicate such problems," he wrote.
It's time to make a stand and draw the line; we have to support those who want to change education in Japan for the benefit of the sport and the welfare of the children.
We have to push until the Japanese judo federation have solved this problem and punish the ones who are responsible for the death of these children the national judo Federation of Japan has to apologize and recognized they failed to the parents and next of kin of the victims.
I'm done with the traditionally Japanese judo and make a stand safe judo for everyone.
I wish all parents and next-of-kin who suffered under the dictatorship of the national judo Federation of Japan all the strength they need to deal with their loss and grief for their children. I wish the national governing body of Japan all the wisdom they need to deal with the Japanese Judo federation to change the federation policy and attitude.
I always proclaimed in the 35 years I practice judo in which I also teach to the disabled:
Judo in itself is nothing it comes to life when two people practice their skills in good harmony.
I'm proud to be a member of the Dutch judo Federation who has adapted the judo in the thoughts of one of the greatest champions in judo, Anton Geesink, He was the one who launched a safe judo education method for the youth in the early 70ties.
He was a visionary who was not afraid to stand-up against the Japanese nomenclature and he did not slavishly follow the Japanese judo tradition. For that the traditional judo followers did everything in their power to nail him, even in the Netherlands.
Fact is that in the last 30 years there been no serious accidents in the
Netherlands during judo practice. I'm proud to be a classified judo teacher in
the Netherlands and I will never doubt again that I damage the tradition of
judo when I adjusted it for the needs of my students.
Regards to those who support my point of view and for those who have another opinion, don’t border me with your fixed up so called mythology of judo and/or Japanese culture.
Ben van der Eng
Chair of the national Dutch judo Federation committee for the disabled.
If you like to give your support or express your sympathy visit the Japan Judo accident Victims Association at their website
Source:
Mike Burke Japan Times.
Japan Judo Accident Victims Association website
Judovisie ,magazine Netherlands.
