Kawasaki racing stable worker's 2024 suicide recognised as work-related, family says
In short
The family of a 43-year-old stable worker at Kawasaki racing, who died by suicide in 2024, said on 22 October that the Kawasaki-minami labour standards inspection office recognised the death as work-related in June. The family attributes it to power harassment by his trainer and 17 consecutive days of work. The trainer's lawyer says the trainer did not commit harassment.
Read the full story 2 min read
A man who worked as a kyumuin, a stable worker who cares for racehorses, at Kawasaki racing died by suicide in 2024 at age 43. His family said on 22 October that the Kawasaki-minami labour standards inspection office recognised the death as a work-related accident in June this year. They said the cause was psychological strain from power harassment by his superior, a trainer, and other factors, and that the trainer repeatedly shouted at and reprimanded him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
According to the family's lawyer, the man was reprimanded by the trainer in front of colleagues and shouted at for a long time with remarks such as "die" and "stable workers are worse than trash". He died at home on 11 February 2024. He had worked 17 consecutive days immediately beforehand, and his overtime had risen sharply. TBS reported that on the day he died he was also told he would be left unable to work anywhere in the industry. Nippon TV and TBS reported that the labour office's inquiry found the 17 consecutive days of work. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
Mainichi Shimbun reported that the family cited testimony from people around him and said the abuse began in January 2024. It said he was also scolded for not reporting the condition of a horse's leg and was shouted at as "less than dogs and cats". The labour office judged that remarks denying his character and humanity could be presumed to have been made, Mainichi reported. It also said overtime was about 42 hours two months before his death and 66 hours one month before, and the office found a causal link to the suicide. [ 4 ]
Nippon TV and TBS reported that his labour contract was with the individual trainer and that working hours were not adequately managed. The family intends to press the organisers of the races for better conditions, Nippon TV reported, and also told it they plan to sue the trainer. Nippon TV reported that he had developed depression, and TBS said he had worked under the trainer since 2015. [ 2 , 8 ]
His mother, 74, spoke at a press conference in Tokyo. "I do not want my son's death to be in vain," she said, and she asked for improvements to stable workers' working conditions. She told Nippon TV he had no days off and that his hair fell out and he grew thin, and told TBS she felt unable to forgive what happened. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 ]
The trainer's lawyer said the trainer has not done anything amounting to harassment. The lawyer said the materials are still being reviewed and declined to comment in detail. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The family used the press conference to call for better working conditions for stable workers. They said contracts are held with individual trainers and that working hours are not properly managed, and they plan to press the organisers of the races as well.
Key facts
- A man who worked as a kyumuin, a stable worker who cares for racehorses, at Kawasaki racing died by suicide in 2024 at age 43. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The family said on 22 October that the Kawasaki-minami labour standards inspection office recognised the death as a work-related accident in June this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The family's lawyer said he died at home on 11 February 2024. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- The office confirmed 17 consecutive days of work shortly before his death. [ 2 , 4 , 8 ]
- According to Mainichi Shimbun, overtime was about 42 hours two months before his death and 66 hours one month before. [ 4 ]
- The trainer's lawyer said the trainer has not done anything amounting to harassment and declined to comment in detail while reviewing materials. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The labour standards inspection office recognised the 43-year-old stable worker's suicide as a work-related accident in June, a fact made public by the family on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The man had worked 17 consecutive days before his death. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- The trainer's lawyer denies any harassment. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the trainer made the remarks the family describes, including telling him to die and calling stable workers worse than trash. The remarks are described by the family and its lawyer. The trainer's lawyer says the trainer has not done anything amounting to harassment.
- When the verbal abuse took place. Mainichi says the family points to remarks from January 2024 onward. Nippon TV and TBS report abuse on the day of death. Other outlets say only that he was shouted at in 2024.
- Whether the family will file a lawsuit against the trainer. Only Nippon TV reports that the family indicated it intends to sue.
- Whether the organisers of the races will take action on working conditions. The family says it will press them, but the documents give no response from them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Livedoor News publishes the first report of the family's announcement. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV reports on the family's press conference and the plan to seek better conditions. [ 2 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun publishes details of the labour office's reasoning and overtime hours. [ 4 ]
- NHK reports that the labour office recognised the suicide as work-related. [ 6 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the recognition and the family's call for better working conditions. [ 8 ]