During the Japanese Volleyball League All-Star match, a staff member seated courtside sustained a minor injury after being accidentally hit by a ball sent by Japanese star Yuji Nishida.
The incident occurred during a skills challenge that required players to direct their serves toward specific targets on the opposite side of the court.
As soon as Nishida realized what had happened, he immediately rushed to the staff member and offered a striking apology, fully bowing to the ground with his forehead touching the floor, a gesture known in Japanese culture as “Dogeza.”
Dogeza is considered one of the deepest and most powerful forms of apology in Japan, symbolizing profound remorse, complete humility, and deep respect. It is rarely used in everyday life and is reserved for situations in which a person feels they have committed a serious mistake, seeks significant forgiveness, or wishes to show submission and respect to someone of higher status.
By contrast, Japanese culture more commonly relies on bowing as a means of apology or showing respect, with the depth of the bow varying according to the severity of the mistake or the level of respect intended. This practice has been deeply rooted in Japanese society for more than 1,500 years.
Nishida’s sincere and spontaneous gesture was met with widespread praise from spectators inside the arena and across social media, with many viewing it as a powerful example of sportsmanship and mutual respect.
The incident occurred during a skills challenge that required players to direct their serves toward specific targets on the opposite side of the court.
As soon as Nishida realized what had happened, he immediately rushed to the staff member and offered a striking apology, fully bowing to the ground with his forehead touching the floor, a gesture known in Japanese culture as “Dogeza.”
Dogeza is considered one of the deepest and most powerful forms of apology in Japan, symbolizing profound remorse, complete humility, and deep respect. It is rarely used in everyday life and is reserved for situations in which a person feels they have committed a serious mistake, seeks significant forgiveness, or wishes to show submission and respect to someone of higher status.
By contrast, Japanese culture more commonly relies on bowing as a means of apology or showing respect, with the depth of the bow varying according to the severity of the mistake or the level of respect intended. This practice has been deeply rooted in Japanese society for more than 1,500 years.
Nishida’s sincere and spontaneous gesture was met with widespread praise from spectators inside the arena and across social media, with many viewing it as a powerful example of sportsmanship and mutual respect.
