Japan's Supreme Court overturns acquittal in Lake Inawashiro boat crash that killed boy
In short
Japan's Supreme Court on October 16 overturned a high court acquittal and found former company executive Tsuyoshi Sato (佐藤剛), 49, guilty of professional negligence resulting in death and injury over a 2020 boat crash on Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture. The ruling means the Fukushima District Court's two-year prison sentence, without suspension, will become final. The crash killed 8-year-old Eita Toyoda (豊田瑛大) and seriously injured his mother and one other person.
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Japan's Supreme Court on October 16 overturned the acquittal of Tsuyoshi Sato (佐藤剛), 49, a former company executive from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, who had been charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury over a 2020 boat crash on Lake Inawashiro. The Second Petty Bench, presided over by Justice Junichi Takasu (高須順一), quashed the Sendai High Court ruling, and the Fukushima District Court's sentence of two years in prison, without suspension, will become final. The Asahi Shimbun and Nikkei reported that the four justices ruled unanimously. [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 16 ]
According to the lower court rulings, at around 11 a.m. on September 6, 2020, a boat piloted by Sato hit three people wearing life jackets who were floating on the lake in Aizuwakamatsu while waiting their turn for water leisure activities. Eita Toyoda (豊田瑛大), an 8-year-old third-grade pupil from Noda, Chiba Prefecture, died. His mother and one other person were seriously injured. The Sankei Shimbun reported that the mother lost both legs and that the three were waiting to ride a float towed by a water bike. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 11 , 14 ]
The trial court ruled in March 2023 that, based on a police reenactment, Sato could have spotted the victims about 223 metres before the collision point, and that he failed to keep watch. In December 2024 the Sendai High Court acquitted him. It found the reenactment conditions unfairly unfavourable to him, noting that the mannequin used floated higher than a person, and said it was hard to expect people in an area where swimming was prohibited. [ 4 , 6 , 11 , 14 , 15 ]
The Asahi Shimbun reported that the Supreme Court said a high court must point out specific irrational points to overturn a trial court's findings of fact, and that the high court had not sufficiently shown grounds for doing so. The court upheld the trial court's finding that the victims could be seen as "floating objects" before they entered the boat's blind spot. Nikkei reported that the court said failing to quash the high court ruling would be "grossly contrary to justice". [ 6 , 11 ]
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, the boy's mother said she was relieved, according to the Asahi Shimbun. "It took a long six years, and there was resignation and distrust, but I'm glad today's result came after overcoming that," she said. "Eita won't come back, but I think this may be something of a closure." The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office said the prosecutors' argument had been accepted and called it a just decision. Sato's lawyer called the ruling "very harsh" and said the court had effectively rescued a sloppy investigation, which he said left the defence very dissatisfied. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
The ruling ends a six-year legal fight in which the trial court convicted, the Sendai High Court acquitted, and prosecutors appealed. According to the Asahi Shimbun, the Supreme Court said a high court must point out specific irrational points before overturning a trial court's findings of fact. The defence said the court had rescued what it called a sloppy police investigation.
Key facts
- The Second Petty Bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Junichi Takasu (高須順一), quashed the Sendai High Court acquittal on October 16. [ 4 , 6 , 11 , 14 , 16 ]
- The Fukushima District Court's sentence of two years in prison for Tsuyoshi Sato (佐藤剛), 49, will become final. [ 4 , 6 , 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]
- The decision of the four justices was unanimous. [ 6 , 11 ]
- On September 6, 2020, at around 11 a.m., a boat piloted by Sato hit three people floating on Lake Inawashiro in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. [ 4 , 11 , 14 ]
- Eita Toyoda (豊田瑛大), 8, a third-grade pupil from Noda, Chiba Prefecture, died, and his mother and one other person were seriously injured. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 11 , 14 ]
- In March 2023 the trial court found that Sato could have seen the victims about 223 metres before the collision point, based on a police reenactment. [ 4 , 11 , 14 , 15 ]
- In December 2024 the Sendai High Court acquitted Sato, finding that the reenactment conditions were unfairly unfavourable to him. [ 4 , 6 , 11 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Supreme Court quashed the high court's acquittal of Tsuyoshi Sato on October 16, and the two-year prison sentence from the Fukushima District Court will become final. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]
- The four justices ruled unanimously. [ 6 , 11 ]
- The crash killed 8-year-old Eita Toyoda and seriously injured his mother and one other person. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 14 ]
- The three victims were floating on the lake surface waiting their turn for water sports when the boat hit them. [ 4 , 6 , 14 ]
- The trial court found the victims could have been spotted about 223 metres before the collision point, based on a police reenactment using a mannequin. [ 4 , 11 , 14 , 15 ]
- The high court found the reenactment conditions unfairly disadvantaged the defendant, noting the mannequin floated higher than a person. [ 4 , 6 , 14 ]
- Sato is a former company executive. [ 5 , 8 , 14 , 16 ]
Still unclear
- The mother lost both legs in the crash. Only the Sankei Shimbun reports this detail.
- Prosecutors had sought three years and six months in prison at trial. Only the Mainichi Shimbun reports the prosecutors' demand.
- Whether the defence will take any further steps. The documents report the defence's criticism of the ruling but say nothing about further action.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- September 6, 2020: at around this time, the boat hits three people floating on Lake Inawashiro. [ 4 , 11 , 14 ]
- October 16: NHK reports that the Supreme Court will hand down its ruling that day. [ 2 ]
- The time Nippon TV reported the Supreme Court was scheduled to deliver its ruling. [ 3 ]
- The Mainichi Shimbun reports that the Supreme Court has reversed the acquittal. [ 4 ]
- The Asahi Shimbun reports the ruling with the reactions of the mother, prosecutors and the defence. [ 6 ]