The incident occurred during the SV League All-Star match in Kobe on 1/2. During the mid-game serving challenge, Yuji Nishida, captain of the Osaka Bluteon club, served with his left hand, which is his dominant hand. However, the ball went off course and hit a female referee sitting near the sideline. The impact startled the referee for a moment, but she was not injured.

Yuji Nishida slides to apologize to the referee during the SV League All-Star match in Kobe, Japan, on 1/2/2026. *Photo: Screenshot*

As soon as he realized the mishap, Nishida immediately reacted with an action that surprised the entire stadium. The 1,86 m tall player slid across the court on his stomach, face down, with both arms pressed close to his body, moving towards the referee. This posture is reminiscent of "dogeza", a form of expressing deep remorse in Japanese culture, but rarely seen in public.

According to a video shared on social media platform X, Nishida landed on his front torso, keeping his head bowed low throughout the slide. The action happened quickly but was enough to make spectators in the stands laugh and applaud. His teammates also seemed amused by this somewhat "over-the-top" apology.

Nishida did not stop there; he continued to kneel and bow repeatedly in front of the female referee. At one point, he clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. When he stood up, the Japanese player continued to bow. The female referee was initially surprised, stepping back. After regaining her composure, she smiled and bowed back to Nishida.

Nishida's unprecedented apology. *Video*

Dogeza in Japanese culture is typically used to express deep remorse, to ask for a significant favor, or to show special respect. The person performing it kneels and bows until their forehead touches the ground. In modern life, this ritual is rarely used publicly, except in some special cases, such as when politicians involved in scandals wish to show repentance to the public.

Consequently, Nishida's actions quickly garnered millions of views on X. Many comments expressed admiration for the Japanese volleyball star's conduct. Some called it "a work of art", while others considered it "the most sincere apology ever seen".

Some humorous comments also appeared, comparing Nishida's slide to curling in winter sports, or likening him to "a tuna that just landed on the floor". On television, commentators even joked that friction with the court surface might have burned Nishida's head.

Beyond this viral moment, Nishida also left his professional mark on the event. He played outstandingly, helping his team win 3-0 and was named the most valuable player of the match.

Yuji Nishida, 26 years old, plays as an opposite hitter and is a leading figure in Japanese men's volleyball. Known for his direct ace serves, he played a crucial role in helping Japan reach the quarterfinals in two consecutive Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Nishida is also considered part of Japan's "power trio" in volleyball, alongside Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi.

By Xuan Binh (according to CNA, Guardian)