Volleyball player goes viral for dramatic apology after smashing his serve into young female judge

There’s nothing like a grand gesture to show just how much you mean something.

What’s the point in an empty, throwaway apology when you could actually say sorry with some gusto?

And one volleyball player in Japan certainly fulfilled that as he ended up going viral for an apology he served up on the court.

Yuji Nishida was playing at an all-star event for the sport in Kobe, western Japan, when he accidentally smashed his serve for the half-time challenge into the back of a female judge.

With her certainly appearing to feel the force of the ball, the 26-year-old acted quickly to show just how sorry he was.

In a sheer moment of chivalry, the Japanese player made amends by racing across the court to give a majestic slide to outdo any dancefloor slides that may have graced your primary school disco. Nishida flew onto his stomach and, with his nose down and hands by his side, he slid under the net and over to the judge.

Spectators and teammates were soon laughing and applauding the player as he arrived at her feet with his nose to the ground.

And it didn’t end there, as the viral clips show him on his knees, bowing to her and even clasping his hands together.

This still went on as he got up to his feet as the smiling (and somewhat embarrassed) judge began to bow back at Nishida.

She might have been shaken up, but she appeared unharmed in the ordeal, and it's pretty clear the player did not mean to strike her.

This gesture is known as a dogeza, a traditional Japanese form of apology, usually for moments of deep remorse or for showing great respect.

The videos of the moment have picked up millions of views across social media as the player’s ‘sliding grovel’ goes global.

Nishida Yuji สไลด์หัวอย่างสุดพลัง แล้วก็รีบขอโทษทันที 🙇‍♂️😂
SV.LEAGUE ALL STAR GAMES 2025-26 KOBE ‼️ pic.twitter.com/lgiySaNbGu

— SV.LEAGUE🇯🇵🇹🇭 (@svleague_th) February 1, 2026

“It's peak Japanese sportsmanship + anime energy: powerful spike goes wrong → instant regret → sprint + belly slide under the net → forehead-to-floor bow while apologizing like his life depends on it. The way the crowd laughs and cheers just makes it even better,” one user wrote as another joked he ‘literally slid into her DMs irl’.

“Lol that’s some slide. Fair play,” a third wrote.

While a fourth joked: “He avoided that law suit like a plague.”

Others praised Japanese politeness as they billed it a ‘legendary apology’.

And things went well for Nishida after his slide (while commentators wondered if the friction had burned his head) as he helped his team win 3-0.