Jockey Yoshitaka Yamada (22), who belongs to Saga Racecourse, was arrested on November 9, 2026, on suspicion of assaulting and threatening his girlfriend. While Yamada admitted to the assault, he partially denied making the threat of "I'll seriously kill you," saying he "doesn't remember." The Saga Prefectural Horse Racing Association announced that he will be suspended from riding for the time being.

[2026] What was the reason for the arrest of Saga Racecourse jockey Yoshitaka Yamada? His "I'll seriously kill you" remark.

Q. Why was jockey Yoshitaka Yamada arrested?

A. On the afternoon of November 6, 2026, he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, a woman in her 20s, at his home in Tosu City, Saga Prefecture, by slapping her cheek and threatening her by saying, "I'm seriously going to kill you, seriously."

Q. Has the person admitted to the charges?

A. While admitting to the assault, he partially denied the threats, saying he didn't remember them.

Q. What is Saga Racecourse's response?

A. On November 10, 2026, the Saga Prefectural Horse Racing Association announced that it would investigate the facts and take strict action, and has suspended the jockey's participation in races for the time being.

What was the reason for jockey Yoshitaka Yamada's arrest? Summary of the incident.
The statement "I'll seriously kill you" and the person's testimony
The sequence of events from the incident to the arrest
Who is jockey Yoshitaka Yamada? Profile and career
Saga Prefecture Horse Racing Association's response and suspension of riding
Statutory penalties for assault and intimidation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What was the reason for jockey Yoshitaka Yamada's arrest? Summary of the incident

Yoshiki Yamada (22), a jockey belonging to Saga Racecourse, was arrested by the Saga Prefectural Police on November 9, 2026, on suspicion of assault and intimidation.

【2026年】佐賀競馬・山田義貴騎手の逮捕理由は？「マジで殺すよ」発言

Yamada is suspected of assaulting his girlfriend, a woman in her 20s, at his home in Tosu City, Saga Prefecture, on the afternoon of November 6, 2026, by slapping her cheek and pushing her to the ground, and threatening her by saying, "I'm seriously going to kill you, seriously."

The incident came to light when the woman reported to the police on November 8, 2026, that she had been subjected to violence by her boyfriend.

item	Content
Persons who were arrested	Suspect Yoshitaka Yamada (22), a jockey belonging to Saga Racecourse.
address	Tosu City, Saga Prefecture
Suspect	Assault and threats
Date and time of occurrence	November 6, 2026, afternoon
Location	Yamada's home (Tosu City)
victim	My girlfriend is a woman in her 20s.
Date of arrest	November 9, 2026

2. The statement "I'll seriously kill you" and the person's testimony

Statements considered to be threats

Yamada is alleged to have assaulted the woman and then told her, "I'm seriously going to kill you, seriously." This statement is the basis for the suspicion of intimidation.

Statements given to the police

During police questioning, Yamada said the following:

Suspect	His statement
assault	"There is no doubt that the assault occurred."
blackmail	"I don't remember the content of the threats."

While he has admitted to the assault, he has denied the threats and is partially denying the allegations. Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the trouble and whether it is a recurring issue.

3. The sequence of events from the incident to the arrest

date	event
Friday, November 6, 2026 (afternoon)	He is suspected of assaulting and threatening his girlfriend at his home in Tosu City.
Sunday, November 8, 2026	The woman consulted the police and reported the incident.
Monday, November 9, 2026	He rode in seven races at Saga Racecourse. On the same day, he was arrested on suspicion of assault and intimidation.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026	The Saga Prefectural Horse Racing Association has issued a statement on its official website announcing that they have decided to suspend riding for the time being.

On November 9, 2026, the day of his arrest, Yamada was riding in races as usual at Saga Racecourse.

4. Who is jockey Yoshitaka Yamada? Profile and career

Jockey Yoshitaka Yamada hails from Tosu City, Saga Prefecture, and is in his fifth year as a jockey, having debuted in 2022. He has built a strong track record as a young jockey in Saga horse racing, achieving over 400 wins in local horse racing within approximately four years of his debut.

item	Content
name	Yoshiki Yamada
date of birth	February 17, 2004 (age 22)
Birthplace	Tosu City, Saga Prefecture
Affiliation	Saga Racecourse, Toru Yamada Stable (as of March 2026)
First ride	April 2, 2022
first win	April 4, 2022
Overall record	2,878 races, 413 wins (as of March 21, 2026 - total for local horse racing)

On March 22, 2026, the Kochi Prefectural Horse Racing Association announced that jockey Yamada would be riding at Kochi Racecourse for a limited time from April 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026.

5. Saga Prefecture Horse Racing Association's Response and Suspension of Riding

The Saga Prefectural Horse Racing Association, which operates Saga Racecourse, released a statement on its official website on November 10, 2026.

Regarding this matter, we will promptly investigate the facts and take appropriate action as the Saga Prefectural Horse Racing Association. Furthermore, the jockey in question will be suspended from riding in races for the time being.

The comment concludes with an apology to horse racing fans and those involved in the sport.

correspondence	Content
Race riding	Suspended for the time being
Facts	Conduct an investigation immediately.
disposal	Strict action will be taken after the investigation (details have not yet been released as of November 11, 2026).

The details of the disciplinary action and the timing of his return to riding have not been announced as of November 11, 2026.

6. Statutory penalties for assault and intimidation

The following are the provisions of the Penal Code regarding the two charges against suspect Yamada. Under the revised Penal Code, which came into effect on June 1, 2025, imprisonment has been changed to "detention."

crime name	article	legal punishment
assault crime	Penal Code Article 208	Imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to 300,000 yen, detention, or minor fine.
Extortion	Penal Code Article 222	Imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 300,000 yen.

Assault charges apply when the victim of assault does not sustain any physical injury. Threats are committed when someone threatens another person by threatening to inflict harm on their life or body. At this stage, both are merely suspicions, and the final decision will depend on further investigation and judicial judgment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. How old is jockey Yoshitaka Yamada?

A. I was born on February 17, 2004, making me 22 years old. I'm from Tosu City, Saga Prefecture, and I made my debut at Saga Racecourse in 2022.

Q2. Will jockey Yoshitaka Yamada participate in races in the future?

A. The Saga Prefectural Horse Racing Association has announced that the jockey will be suspended from riding in races for the time being. As of November 11, 2026, the timing of the resumption of riding and the details of the disciplinary action have not been announced.

Q3. How did the incident come to light?

A. The incident came to light on November 8, 2026, when the victimized woman consulted the police, stating that she had been subjected to violence by her boyfriend.

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