A s3xual assault case involving a former karate school head in southwestern Japan has intensified calls for stronger safeguarding measures in youth sports, even as awareness of athlete protection policies gradually spreads across the country.
Yuiko Inoue, a 34-year-old former women’s Nadeshiko League footballer, founded the organization S.C.P. Japan in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture in 2020 to create a safe and secure sporting environment for everyone. Since then, she has focused on promoting safeguarding awareness and training programs across Japan.
Inoue says awareness is gradually increasing, but cases like the assault involving former karate instructor Nagasue show that risks remain high wherever organizations fail to introduce preventive measures. She is calling for stronger involvement by authorities, including measures that would pressure organizations to adopt safeguarding systems.
“It’s necessary to create an external environment where subsidies are withheld unless the system is implemented,” Inoue said.
She urges sports organizations to establish clear behavioral guidelines assuming risks exist, set rules prohibiting inappropriate physical contact, and designate personnel and consultation services for complaints. Inoue notes that sports environments can enable coaches to dominate athletes and normalize abusive behavior under the guise of discipline and performance.
The Japan Football Association introduced a safeguarding policy in 2021 and incorporated it into coaching license requirements, but the Nagasue case shows that risks remain high where organizations fail to implement preventive measures. Inoue wants external pressure through funding conditions to ensure organizations adopt safeguarding systems