Japanese volleyball star goes viral after dramatic on-court apology

A volleyball player from Japan became an internet sensation after hitting a judge with the ball during a serve. What really caught people’s attention, though, was the player’s immediate and incredibly polite apology.

The event happened on February 1st at the SV League All-Star Games in Kobe. It involved Yuji Nishida, a famous Japanese volleyball player known for his powerful serve and strong attacks.

At the All-Star event, Nishida, known for his powerful serves, accidentally hit a line judge while serving during a demonstration. He didn’t just apologize – his reaction was so funny it quickly went viral and made everyone laugh.

Apology takes spotlight at volleyball game

After accidentally hitting a line judge with his serve, Nishida rushed over to her, immediately dropping to his knees and sliding under the net in a full prostration – a traditional Japanese gesture of deep apology and regret.

After the incident, medical staff checked the ball girl and confirmed she wasn’t hurt. Nishida apologized several times with deep bows before resuming the match.

Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, and people loved Nishida’s funny apology. One user wrote, “Yuji Nishida really raised the standard for apologies! We could all learn from his good humor – thankfully, there’s only one of him tracking dirt into my house!”

A volleyball player from Japan is gaining a lot of attention online after offering a very elaborate apology for accidentally hitting someone with the ball during a serve.

— TopMob (@TopMob) February 2, 2026

One person playfully said, “I’m forgiving him even though he never bothered me!” Others compared the moment to a scene from the anime Haikyu!!, suggesting Nishida’s actions mirrored a similar situation in the show.

Despite the attention given to the apology, Nishida’s team still won their match at the SV League All-Star Games with a score of 3-0.

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2026-02-02 13:51