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Farewell Fight Kills Japanese Navy Trainee

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The Associated Press

Published: October 23, 2008

TOKYO - A Japanese sailor dropping out of an elite navy training program died in an unofficial farewell ritual requiring him to fight 15 classmates, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The 25-year-old petty officer died of internal injuries on Sept. 25, nearly two weeks after being knocked unconscious in the 15-round kick boxing-style fight, the ministry said in an interim report from the investigation.

"Anyone would think it was overkill, or went over the edge," Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters, acknowledging the ritual was improper.

Hamada apologized to the man's family and promised a thorough investigation.

The sailor, whose name was withheld by the ministry, was two days away from leaving the two-year program for the navy's elite Special Boarding Unit, which he joined in December. The victim, who was on submarine crew, was to return to his former unit.

According to the report, one of the school's two supervisors approved the fight, which was suggested by another student.

But the report found the fight was unnecessary and more like a ritual, noting a similar incident in May, where another sailor leaving the program suffered broken teeth and a lip injury fighting 16 opponents.

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