Japanese volleyball star Yuji Nishida accidentally struck a courtside line judge during a powerful serve showcase. What followed wasn’t a standard “my bad” but a dramatic Yuji Nishida sliding apology video that went viral.
It happened at the SV League All-Star Games in Kobe Japan on February 1 2026. The stadium crowd was watching a fun serving showcase when things suddenly took a sharp turn.
Nishida unleashed a massive left-handed serve but the ball careened out of bounds and smacked right into the back of a female line judge.
I was honestly shocked when I first saw the clip because the hit looked so hard. You instantly feel terrible for the woman standing there doing her job. But Nishida didn’t just stand there and wave his hand in a half-hearted apology like most athletes do today.
He immediately sprinted under the net and launched his body into a full headfirst slide on his stomach across the hard court. He slid right up to her feet with his nose basically touching the floor in a traditional Japanese Dogeza bow.
It is deeply touching to see someone going to that extreme level to show they are genuinely sorry. In a world where many people are too stubborn to say sorry he literally threw himself on the ground to ask for forgiveness. I felt a huge wave of respect for him. It shows a level of humility and grace we rarely ever see in professional sports or anywhere else.
The line judge was startled at first but thankfully she was completely uninjured. When she saw the famous athlete face down on the court at her feet she started laughing and warmly accepted his apology. The two of them then repeatedly bowed to each other in a beautiful display of mutual respect.
Yuji Nishida’s apology video quickly spread online. People praised the Japanese volleyball player for his incredible sportsmanship. Nishida himself posted the clip on his personal Instagram story with the caption “Ichiban” meaning it was a favorite moment of his. Despite the early mishap he went on to win the Most Valuable Player award.
Sometimes saying sorry to someone seems like a difficult task for many of us. Our flesh wants to hold on to pride and we just don’t want to admit when we are wrong. But the Bible says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 (NKJV)). Seeing how this young man responded even though it was an accident really moved me. He didn’t care about his fame or status. He simply humbled himself to the ground and apologized the best way he could.
When we choose to walk in humility and ask for forgiveness we make room for God to move in our lives and heal our relationships. Let this be a sweet reminder for all of us to keep our hearts soft and always be quick to repent when we miss the mark.
“A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.” Proverbs 29:23 (NKJV)
WATCH: Volleyball Star Yuji Nishida Hits Line Judge—His Extreme Sliding Apology Goes Viral
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