A 20‑meter pine tree gave way abruptly during a youth soccer tournament at a resort complex in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, sending a massive trunk onto the sidelines and into the crowd of spectators.
Seven people were injured, among them two preschool‑aged girls and five women in their thirties and forties. Their wounds ranged from minor cuts to more serious fractures, but medical officials confirmed that none of the injuries were life‑threatening.
Chaos and Immediate Response
Witnesses reported hearing a sharp cracking sound moments before the tree toppled, and the scene quickly descended into chaos as several ambulances arrived and a medical helicopter landed to transport one of the more seriously injured victims. The incident occurred just after 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, during a match for elementary school children.
Rain had fallen in Gotemba the night before, leaving the ground damp, though no precipitation was recorded at the time of the collapse. The sports ground is part of a larger resort that includes a hotel, hot‑spring facilities and tennis courts, providing a vivid backdrop to the sudden disaster.