Who Is Yuji Nishida? Japanese Volleyball Star’s Video Goes Viral for Unique Apology

Video of Japanese volleyball star making rounds on social media sites, where he can be seen apologising to a woman in a unique style. The dramatic apology video came after a following accidental hit during a match on Sunday in Kobe, Japan.

The incident took place when Nishida was taking part in a half-time left-handed serving that went off course and struck a female courtside judge on her back. Nishida was shocked by his action, the judge, who was not injured, paused to regain her composure.

After accidentally hitting someone with the ball, Japanese volleyball player Yuji Nishida apologized with a sliding dogeza.
So cute! 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/84xZ0slo80

— The Figen (@TheFigen_) February 1, 2026

Quickly, Nishad slid on the floor headfirst on the court to apologise for his accidental hit. His gesture, headfirst sliding apology with his hands side by side and his face close to the floor, shocked everyone, even netizens.

Japanese volleyball player accidentally hits opponent with serve, apology wins hearts. pic.twitter.com/bahFKrzNBg

— The Tatva (@thetatvaindia) February 2, 2026

The gesture from Nishad prompted laughter and applause from the crowd in the court and other players. Further in the video he was seen dropping his knees and continued to bow in front of the side judge. As he stood and bowed again, the judge responded with a polite bow of her own, smiling as the exchange concluded.

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Who Is Yuji Nishida? 

The 26-year-old Osaka Bluteon captain, known for his insane vertical jump, made his national team debut at age of 18. Standing at 1.86 metres (approximately 6'1"), Nishida is considered undersized by elite international standards, where many opposite hitters exceed two metres.

However, he has more than compensated for his height with a vertical leap of over 1.05 metres and a powerful left-handed swing that has earned him the nickname "The Lefthanded Phenom."

Nishida first gained international fame during the 2019 FIVB World Cup. At just 19 years old, he delivered a historic performance against Canada, serving five consecutive aces to close out the match—a feat that remains one of the most-watched clips in the sport’s digital history.