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A prominent figure-skating coach in Japan has been arrested on suspicion of raping and assaulting a 13-year-old girl he was training, police said Thursday.
Yasuji Sakai, 56, who resigned as an executive of the Japan Figure Skating Instructor Association last week, was arrested in the central prefecture of Aichi on Wednesday, local police said.
Sakai, who has trained renowned skaters, allegedly raped the girl on April 11 when she was spending the night at his house for early-morning training.
"He allegedly climbed on top of her when she was sleeping on the second floor of his house and assaulted her, causing her injuries that needed one week of treatment," a police spokesman said.
The girl's mother and younger sister were also staying at the coach's home but were sleeping in a different room, the mother said in an interview aired on the private Fuji television network Thursday.
"She came to me, saying, 'Mama, Mr Sakai sneaked into my futon and did weird things to me.' She then burst into tears. She was crying and trembling so hard... My daughter was in a panic," the mother said.
"While he was assaulting her, he strangled her. She felt a horror like she was dying," the mother said.
According to the mother, Sakai initially said he had mistaken the girl for his wife and apologized.
But he later retracted his admission and reportedly said he was drunk.
"I will never forgive him if he admits it in the future. I will keep cursing him until the day I die," the mother said.
The instructor association, to which most of Japan's well-known coaches belong, said in a statement Wednesday that the incident was "very regrettable" if the allegations are true.
The association noted it earlier tried to question Sakai but was unable as he had been in the hospital since late April.
"I have the strong impression that he is a well-tempered, gentle man," Association chief Nobuo Sato told Fuji. "I still can't believe it."
Jiji Press news agency reported the police went ahead with arresting him after confirming he was fit enough to be detained.
© Wire reports
28 Comments
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SiouxGirl
Ultimately he's saying he's in the habit of strangling his wife during intimate moments? But then he said he was drunk ... His poor wife! Time to file those divorce papers, Mrs. I feel for everyone involved in this atrocity - except for him.
yukisnowflake
I say: Never mind letting the J-cops or J-courts handle this guy & mete out his punishment, but let the JFS (Jpanease Skating Federation) deal with him & punish him. Considering how harshly the JSF punished Nobunari Oda for his mistake & lack of judgement, I'm sure the JSF would hand out an even harsher & appropriate punishment to this guy. Also after seeing how swiftly the JSF punished Nobunari Oda, I'm sure this sad situation & this guys punishment would be taken care of swiftly as it should be.
asdfghjkl
“While he was assaulting her, he strangled her. She felt a horror like she was dying”.......ummm so does he do this to his wife often!!!!! Hello! this perv should have his balls removed especially if he has done this before with other gals. However, how come no other skaters have come forward........
racid
I'm not from Japan.... so could someone tell me how J-cops handle investigation of rape victims? sounds like they don't take it seriously.
capone
its for guys like this that a massive kick to the nuts was invented for
Fair dinkum!
This offense carries a maximum of 15 years jail in Australia, however, this guy probably won't even get fired! I think a suitable punishment would be to leave this guy in a room with the extended family of the little girl he abused. I'm sure they'll come to an understanding.
fingerless
I dread to think how many times he made that same "mistake" in the past and charges were never made.
conqueror_of_Uranus
I've been hammered to the point where I would have mistaken any one in my bed for my GF.... But would be in no condition for sexual activity, neither would I try to initiate it.
This guy is full of BS.
capone
and the standard japanese excuse for everything: i was drunk
saintseiya
What is funny is the fact that he actually tryed to harm sexually somebody!! If he was drunk or not doesn't count. So as 56years old japanese male, sporttrainer with a certain reputation, he is qualified to be a primus J-man!
To put it short: He treats his wife like crap, likes young girls, is a fat , stinking alcoholic who comes home late at night and rapes his wife. (Second person to consider here is his wife). hope he gets live sentance and raped by some gay inmates and guards daily!
noborito
allegedly sexually assaulting
Change the headline!
EX-Fighre Skating Coach RAPES 13 year old girl.
electric2004
Maybe "coach" is an abbreviation of "cock-roach".
Nessie
Can't tell the difference between your wife and a 13yo?
Hint: The one gets you prison time is the 13yo.
Nessie
Not being able to tell the difference between his wife and a 13yo will be part of his insanity plea.
thepro
He'll be a popular boy in jail
Zaphod
So he says he is in the habit of raping his wife? Weird excuse.
raymech1
Poor girl, I hope she will be able to come out of this ok and skate again.... :(
nath
Why does he need to sneak into his wife's bed?
himasan
The old I was drunk excuse eh? Unfortunately this nonce will probably have the charges dropped cause the girl reported the crime too late, and we all know how J-cops treat the investigation of rape victims.
timorborder
Creative punishments aside, this guy is a pedophile. Charge him, try him, find him guilty and lock him up. Also look further into his past to see if this is a one-off case or part of a series. Furthermore, when he goes to jail, make sure that he gets to live with the general population, which I would assume includes a number of prisoners with children of their own. Can you say "SHIV?"
zanza123
Given the integrity of the J-cops, they probably will take the mistaking a 13 year old girl for his wife seriously, ESPECIALLY if he's drunk, cuz that just makes everything OK, doesn't it? He's not NORMALLY like that at all, one or two fouls for every month or two. In this country, you get off with just about anything as long as you claim that you are drunk during the process.
TheguyNextdoor
Sick, need to strip him naked and lay him on the ice face down and have the zambonie run his @$$ over.
Proffessor
In other words, he offered his wife's bed to the 13 year old girl?
Sarge
"he was drunk and thought it was his wife in bed"
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I'll bet the cops had a good laugh at that one!
hetman
This is gross! Does he even have children?
outofmydepth
how absolutely disgusting. and to think that family put their faith in such a "coach."
smartacus
So he thought the girl was his wife. Now we know how he treats his wife.
Sidwarwick
The punishment should fit the crime: cut off his b@!!s with a blunt ice skate.