Hiroshima, Japan – Koryo High School in Hiroshima has shocked the nation by pulling out of Japan’s most prestigious high school baseball tournament, the Summer Koshien, after a serious bullying incident involving members of its baseball team came to light.
The controversy began when it was revealed that in January, several senior players physically assaulted a first-year teammate in the school dormitory—slapping him, grabbing his collar, and hitting him in the chest. The school investigated the case and, in March, received an official warning from the Japan High School Baseball Federation.
The incident resurfaced during the ongoing Koshien tournament, spreading quickly on social media. This triggered a wave of public outrage, online harassment targeting students, and even a bomb threat against the school’s dormitory. Some students reported being followed or confronted on their way to and from school.
Facing mounting safety concerns, Principal Masakazu Hori announced the school’s withdrawal, saying the decision was made to protect the well-being of students and restore trust. The team’s head coach, Tetsuyuki Nakai, has been suspended while the school reviews its handling of the case.
Japan’s Education Minister, Toshiko Abe, expressed “deep regret” over the incident and urged the school to protect the victim while also warning against harmful speculation and online attacks.
This marks the first time in the tournament’s 110-year history that a school has withdrawn after competition had already begun, excluding pandemic-related cancellations.