Ex-figure skating coach arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting 13-year-old pupil

Thursday 05th June, 03:52 PM JST

NAGOYA —

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

Latest 15 of 28 Total Comments Show All

thepro at 12:44 PM JST - 5th June

He'll be a popular boy in jail
Nessie at 12:45 PM JST - 5th June

Not being able to tell the difference between his wife and a 13yo will be part of his insanity plea.
Nessie at 12:47 PM JST - 5th June

Can't tell the difference between your wife and a 13yo?

Hint: The one gets you prison time is the 13yo.
electric2004 at 02:07 PM JST - 5th June

Maybe "coach" is an abbreviation of "cock-roach".
noborito at 02:34 PM JST - 5th June

allegedly sexually assaulting

Change the headline!

EX-Fighre Skating Coach RAPES 13 year old girl.
saintseiya at 03:25 PM JST - 5th June

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!
capone at 03:32 PM JST - 5th June

and the standard japanese excuse for everything: i was drunk
conqueror_of_Uranus at 04:02 PM JST - 5th June

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.
fingerless at 04:38 PM JST - 5th June

I dread to think how many times he made that same "mistake" in the past and charges were never made.
Fair dinkum! at 04:56 PM JST - 5th June

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.
capone at 06:25 PM JST - 5th June

its for guys like this that a massive kick to the nuts was invented for
racid at 01:23 AM JST - 6th June

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.
asdfghjkl at 09:37 AM JST - 6th June

“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........
yukisnowflake at 02:30 PM JST - 6th June

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.
SiouxGirl at 04:04 AM JST - 8th June

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.