Bullying in baseball has cast a shadow over Japan’s revered high school baseball culture. In July, a mother revealed that teammates had bullied her 16-year-old son, Hideki (a pseudonym), off the Koryo High School baseball team. Notably, the mother revealed this just before the team planned to compete in the prestigious Summer Koshien tournament.
Hideki had been part of Koryo’s celebrated baseball program, which had made 26 appearances in the Summer Koshien and produced several elite professional players. Since second grade, his dream had been to play at Koshien Stadium. However, six months earlier, he dropped out after experiencing persistent bullying.
Soon after, the mother decided to speak out about her son’s experience. As a result, she created an Instagram account with the username whatisjustice0122 to share their story. Quickly, the account gained attention, which led to widespread media coverage and national outcry.
In response to the growing controversy, Koryo High School withdrew from the tournament. Subsequently, the Japan High School Baseball Federation barred the school from participating in future tournaments for a year. The decision was met with mixed reactions. On one hand, some praised the swift action. On the other hand, others questioned whether it would lead to meaningful change.
More importantly, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about bullying in Japanese high schools. Consequently, many are now calling for stricter regulations and stronger support systems to protect students. In light of the backlash, the Japan High School Baseball Federation pledged to review its current policies. Additionally, it plans to implement new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, this scandal has also prompted a reevaluation of the intense pressure placed on student-athletes. After all, the pursuit of excellence in sports should never come at the expense of students’ well-being. Ultimately, the hope is that this incident will lead to a more supportive and respectful environment for all students involved in high school sports.
