Be with someone who would cross mountains and oceans for you—or even slide across the floor to apologize. That’s exactly what Japanese volleyball star Yuji Nishida demonstrated. The 1.87m opposite hitter went viral on social media for showing what a “sweeping” apology really looks like. During the Japanese SV League All-Star Game on February 1, Nishida accidentally hit a courtside staff member while participating in a skills challenge.

Immediately realizing his mistake, Nishida sprang into action—literally. He slid across the court on his stomach while bowing deeply in apology. He then knelt and continued bowing, with the staff member responding good-naturedly, pretending to be injured and laughing as Nishida returned to the game.

The 26-year-old’s comical yet earnest apology quickly went viral, amassing over 8.5 million views in less than 24 hours on X, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. One user called it “peak anime energy,” while another remarked: “The sincerity of the apology is so real yet so absurdly hilarious—it’s peak comedy.”

X user @oikakee wrote: “Get you a man who will slide across the court and put his whole body on the ground to apologize (unfortunately, there’s only one Yuji Nishida, and he’s already taken).” Nishida is married to fellow Japanese volleyball player Sarina Koga. On December 8, 2025, he announced on Instagram—where he has 1.8 million followers—that the couple had welcomed their first child.

Another fan, Gelson Luz, commented: “Yuji Nishida sets a high bar for apologies. The world could use more people with his spirit, though my floors are grateful there’s only one.” Despite the slip-up, Nishida shone on court and was later named Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game at Kobe’s Gion Arena. He is set to return to club action on February 7 with Osaka Bluteon, which he captains and which currently sits second in the 10-team SV League.