As most of you will know, traditional martial arts became compulsory in junior high schools this year.
This is a direct result of the new Fundamental Law of Education, introduced the last time Abe was prime minister, which called for a return to traditional Japanese values.
In most cases the martial art that has been chosen is judo.

Many parents are very concerned about this.
Since 1983 there have been 108 recorded deaths of children in judo class or school judo club activities in Japan. (This figure does not include accidents in private clubs.) With a huge increase in the number of participants it can be assumed that the death rate will increase in the future.
Nobody has been prosecuted for any of these deaths.

As a result, a group of parents and activists have set up the Japan Judo Accidents Victim Association.
Their aim is to reduce deaths and serious injuries among school students.
Their English language web site is here:

http://judojiko.net/eng/

If you click on 'Download' you will find 2 documents that list in detail the fatal accidents that have occurred since 1983.
I especially urge parents of children who are at a Japanese junior high school or who will soon be attending junior high school to look at the site.

Robert Aspinall
Shiga University