A 5-year-old boy died after his right arm became trapped in a moving walkway at a ski resort in Otaru, Hokkaido, on Sunday. His mother called for help around 10 a.m., and the walkway's automatic emergency stop failed to activate. Resort officials have pledged to investigate the cause and prevent future incidents.
On Sunday, December 29, 2025, around 10 a.m., a 5-year-old boy named Hinata Goto from Sapporo suffered an accident at a ski resort in Otaru, Hokkaido. According to local police and firefighters, the boy fell near the exit of an outdoor moving walkway connecting the parking lot to the ski slopes, trapping his right arm in the belt's turning section. The walkway, a conveyor-belt style without steps or handrails, measures about 30 meters long and 60 centimeters wide, and was installed around six years ago.
The boy's mother pressed the emergency stop button after the automatic safety feature failed to activate, and she called for an ambulance. Resort staff could not free him, so emergency workers dismantled part of the equipment, rescuing him after approximately 40 minutes. He was rushed to the hospital unconscious and later pronounced dead. Officials noted that the emergency function had worked during a routine inspection earlier that day.
A resort representative apologized, stating, "We will determine the cause and take measures to prevent a similar incident." The resort remained open, but the walkway was shut down. A couple in their 40s nearby heard encouraging shouts from the cordoned area. A man in his 70s, a frequent visitor, said, "There are points where the slope changes and the belt shakes; I had stumbled there before and thought it was dangerous." Police are investigating the cause.
