"Japanese Job" regained consciousness after being knocked unconscious for half a year after being hit hard with a bat! 30-year-old referee Kawakami Takuto: Wants to return to the court to enforce the law

The referee, Takuto Kawakami, was accidentally hit in the head with a bat. (File photo, AFP)

[Reporter Ni Wanjun/Comprehensive Report] The 30-year-old Japanese referee Takuto Kawakami was seriously injured and fell into coma after being hit in the head by a bat when he was serving as the referee in a game in April this year. Now, after half a year of treatment, good news finally came out. The Japanese Football Organization ( NPB) announced today that the attending physician has determined that Kawakami has regained consciousness. He is not only able to talk and eat, but is also continuing to recover. The most common thing he says to people who come to visit him now is: "I want to return to the court and continue to be a referee."

Kawakami had an accident on April 16 when he was officiating the match between Yakult and DeNA. At that time, Yakult foreign gunman J. Osuna (José Osuna) let go of the bat after swinging, and directly hit Kawakami, who was serving as the referee, on the side of the head. He was immediately rushed to the hospital and underwent head surgery in the intensive care unit. Although he was transferred to the general ward on April 30, he failed to regain consciousness for a long time.

This accident also prompted the Japanese professional baseball team to require all referees to wear helmets on April 18. Later, amateur baseball referees such as universities and professional baseball teams also wrote Kawakami's referee number "29" on their ball caps and other equipment to pray for his speedy recovery.

Kawakami's family said through NPB today that the attending physician has determined that "consciousness can be considered restored." Kawakami is now able to talk to people and eat normally. Although it is not completely without sequelae, he continues to receive rehabilitation every day.

The family also revealed that when Kawakami faces visitors, he always says repeatedly: "I want to return to the stadium and continue to be a referee." In the future, he will continue to receive treatment and rehabilitation with the goal of returning to the stadium. The family also thanks the medical team and all walks of life for their encouragement and support.