The unnamed Japanese karate expert’s claim that the park was partly responsible has been dismissed by the Osaka High Court.

The incident took place at Toei Kyoto Studio Park. The man was visiting with colleagues and had drunk before entering the haunted house.

A park employee who was dressed as a ghost stepped forward to frighten him. Duly frightened, the man kicked the worker in the face. He later claimed his actions were a reflex.

After the injured employee sought compensation a settlement was reached in 2015, with the karate expert paying 10 million yen (£52,534) in damages. He later took legal action against the park’s managing company.

He said they had been negligent in failing to train staff to protect themselves against such reflexive attacks.

The court, however, said the kick went “beyond the scope of a reflexive action taken out of sheer fear”.

The court stated: “While it is true that the aim of the staff portraying the ghosts is to surprise customers, this is done with the understood principle that the haunted house is something that can be safely enjoyed.”