Press Conference:
Child abuse in Japanese sport
Kanae Doi
Japan Director, Human Rights Watch
Keiko Kobayashi
Japan Judo Accident Victims Association
Takuya Yamazaki
Sports lawyer, Executive Committee Member of World Players Association

Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 15:00 - 16:00
(The speech and Q & A will be in English & Japanese with English. )
 
On the day that the 2020 Olympics were due to open in Tokyo, representatives of Human Rights Watch will come to the FCCJ to discuss a new report on what it says is the widespread physical, sexual, and verbal abuse of child athletes in Japan.

In the 67-page report, titled "'I Was Hit So Many Times I Can't Count': Abuse of Child Athletes in Japan," the international NGO documents the country's history of corporal punishment, or taibatsu, in sport and finds abuse in training throughout Japanese schools, federations, and elite sports.

Human Rights Watch's main recommendation is for the establishment of a Japan Center for Safe Sport, an independent administrative body tasked with addressing child abuse in sport to ensure reporting and tracking of complaints, establish remedies for athletes and parents, and deter child abuse by identifying and decertifying abusive coaches.

Kanae Doi, Japan director of Human Rights Watch, will be among the representatives speaking at the club. The Olympics have been rescheduled to start on July 23, 2021, but remain in doubt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to attend:

Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, name of media outlet, FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions, please note there will be a limited number of reservations to attend. Doors open at 14:30. Please sign in your name and contact details at the reception with your own pen and to have your temperature taken before proceeding.

How to watch online: https://vimeo.com/440184987

Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/48RTs4sXXrCGv53i6

Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form (English only).

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Door open for TV crews only at 14:15. There will be five positions available for livestreaming.

Kanae Doi, Keiko Kobayashi and Takuya Yamazaki

Professional Activities Committee