A five-year-old boy has died in northern Japan after his arm became trapped in a travelator at a ski resort, prompting a police investigation into possible safety failures and professional negligence.
The child, identified by Japanese media as Hinata Goto, was on a family ski holiday in Hokkaido when the incident occurred on Sunday morning at the Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort in the city of Otaru.
According to police, Hinata was stepping off the travelator — a moving walkway used to transport skiers from the car park to the slopes — when he lost his balance and fell. His right arm became caught in the machinery, and the safety mechanism designed to stop the travelator automatically failed to activate.
The machine eventually came to a halt only after the boy’s mother pressed the emergency stop button, Japanese media reported.
Rescue workers were called to the scene and spent approximately 40 minutes dismantling part of the travelator in an effort to free the child. By the time he was released, Hinata had lost consciousness. He was rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The travelator involved in the incident was installed around six years ago and measures approximately 30 metres in length and 60 centimetres in width. It does not have handrails and is used by skiers wearing heavy equipment and boots.
Staff at the Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort said the safety mechanism, which is intended to immediately stop the machine if an object becomes trapped, had been functioning earlier in the day. However, it did not respond at the time of the accident.
Japanese police have launched an investigation to determine whether there was any professional negligence, including possible faults in the design, manufacture or maintenance of the travelator.
Officers are also examining whether safety measures at the resort were sufficient, particularly given the presence of young children and inexperienced users.
Several visitors told local media that they had previously experienced difficulties while using the same travelator.
“Even as an adult, there are times when I think it’s a little scary,” one regular customer was quoted as saying by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
A representative of the Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort issued an apology following the incident, offering condolences to the boy’s family and pledging to take steps to prevent a similar tragedy.
“We deeply regret this incident and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family,” the representative said, adding that the resort would cooperate fully with the investigation and review its safety procedures.
Hokkaido is widely regarded as Japan’s premier ski destination, attracting millions of visitors each year, particularly during the winter season. The region is popular with both domestic and international tourists due to its heavy snowfall and extensive ski facilities.
The tragedy has raised renewed concerns in Japan about the safety of ski resort infrastructure and the adequacy of safety systems designed to protect children and other vulnerable users.
Authorities say further details will be released as the investigation continues.
