Takahiro “Tiger” Sohwa, a former Japanese motorcycle racer who made his mark in the AMA Superbike championship during the 1990s, has died at the age of 59. According to Japanese media reports, Sohwa is believed to have taken his own life by jumping from a building in Kobe, Japan, on October 6th.
Sohwa gained recognition in motorcycle racing competitions in Japan in the mid-1980s, establishing himself as one of the country’s most prominent riders by the end of that decade. In 1991, he achieved third place in the Japanese Superbike Championship, which paved the way for him to compete in the United States.
In the AMA Superbike championship, Sohwa distinguished himself primarily in the Supersport and Superbike categories. Racing for Muzzy Kawasaki, he claimed two victories in the 750 Supersport championship and finished as runner-up in that category in 1993. In AMA Superbike, he reached the podium on several occasions, with his best result being a second place in the Pomona race in 1994. Later, in 1995, Sohwa moved to compete for the Ferracci Ducati team.
On October 6th, around 10:00 PM, a witness waiting at a pedestrian crossing near a commercial building in Sakaemachi-dori, Kobe, called emergency services to report seeing someone fall. Upon arriving at the scene, police found a man between 50 and 60 years old lying in a nearby parking lot. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away about 40 minutes later.
According to investigations by the Ikuta police station in Hyogo prefecture, a mobile phone, wallet, and long-sleeved jacket were found on the building’s roof, leading authorities to conclude that the man had jumped from there. Eyewitness accounts also support the hypothesis of suicide.