Latest news with #KoryoHighSchool
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Koryo High School's Withdrawal from Koshien: Lax Response Invited Defamation on Social Media
It can be said that a school's lax awareness toward violence and its poor response has worsened a situation. Defamatory comments on social media also cannot be overlooked, causing users' morals to be questioned once again. Koryo High School in Hiroshima Prefecture, which was participating in the National High School Baseball Championship, withdrew from the tournament after winning its first game. The reason cited was a spate of defamatory comments on social media following a violent incident involving team members in January. The violent incident reportedly involved a then first-year student who ate instant noodles in the baseball team's dormitory and was subsequently beaten by senior students. Upon receiving a report, the Japan High School Baseball Federation issued a severe reprimand to the high school in March. The victimized student had no choice but to transfer to a different school. Starting in late July, a person claiming to be the victim's parent posted on social media that more team members than the school acknowledged were involved in the violent incident, sparking a flood of criticism against the school. Even though defamatory comments were made on social media, it is obvious that the school side's failure to take the issue seriously and its mishandling of the initial response led to the withdrawal from the tournament. The Law for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Bullying designates cases in which there is suspicion that bullying has caused serious harm to a child's life, physical and mental health, or property as 'serious incidents' and mandates the establishment of an investigative body. However, Koryo High School determined that the incident did not constitute bullying and also did not report it to the department in charge at the prefectural government. High school baseball is primarily a school club activity. As a school known for its strong baseball team that regularly participates in the national tournament at Koshien Stadium, didn't Koryo exhibit an excessive 'win-at-all-costs mentality,' lacking the awareness to strictly address violence as an educational institution? Separately from this incident, another problem has come to light in which a former team member alleged that he had suffered violence from the coach and other team members, leading to the establishment of a third-party committee in June. One cannot help but suspect that violence was rampant within the closed dormitory environment. There also remain questions about the decision made by the Japan High School Baseball Federation. Is the 'severe reprimand' it issued to the high school an appropriate punishment for a violent incident in which the victimized student had no choice but to change schools? Is it right to decide on a punishment based solely on the arguments of the Koryo side without hearing the victim's side? It is necessary to consider reviewing the examination method. Bomb threats have been made on social media against the baseball club dormitory and defamatory comments have been directed at unrelated students. Photos and names of players and others are being identified as those of 'perpetrators' with unknown veracity, creating a situation that could be called an 'online lynching.' Spreading content that contains factual errors or defamation may result in legal liability. The people posting should be aware that if a sense of justice that 'bullying is unacceptable' goes too far, it can itself constitute bullying. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13, 2025)
CTV News
11-08-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Japan school exits hugely popular baseball event over bullying
A Japanese high school hit by a bullying scandal has withdrawn from the country's hugely popular summer baseball tournament after a social media frenzy, officials said Sunday. The two-week 'Koshien' high school tournament is watched by millions on national television each year and has launched the careers of many of Japan's leading players. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish both earned their spurs in the tournament played at Koshien Stadium near the western city of Osaka. An outcry over alleged violence earlier this year at the baseball team of Koryo High School in the Hiroshima region prompted calls on social media for their withdrawal. 'We have decided to pull out, and will swiftly conduct an overhaul of our education method,' Masakazu Hori, the principal of the school in western Japan, told reporters. It is reportedly the first time that a school has exited mid-tournament over a scandal related to player violence. Koshien tournament co-organiser, the Japan High School Baseball Federation, on Sunday described Koryo High's decision as 'extremely regrettable' and vowed to continue efforts to 'eradicate violence, bullying and irrational hierarchical relationships'. Koryo High said on Wednesday that an internal investigation had found a first-year student on the baseball team had been assaulted by four of his senior teammates at their dormitory in January. Acts of violence included shoving him in the chest and slapping him in the face, with the victim then transferred to another school in March following an apology by his assailants, the school said. Koryo High reported the assault to the federation, was given a reprimand in March and did not initially publicise the incident. But emotional social media posts detailing the case went viral earlier this month, triggering an outpouring of anger against the school. Unsubstantiated information then swirled online about other instances of violence allegedly involving Koryo's baseball team. Koryo High principal Hori warned Sunday that the posts 'include pure speculation not based on facts, and slanders against unrelated students. 'Some of our students have been vilified and chased after, on their way to and from school,' he said, adding that even a bomb threat had been received.
The Guardian
11-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Japan rocked by bullying scandal after team withdraws from high school baseball tournament
One of Japan's most popular sports tournaments is reeling after the sudden withdrawal of a team whose teenage players have been accused of abusing a younger teammate. Koryo high school, which had been representing Hiroshima prefecture in the summer high school baseball championships, announced on Sunday it would no longer take part. The team's withdrawal comes after a public outcry over reports that several of its members had physically abused a junior player earlier this year. The event's organising body issued a severe reprimand to the school in March after its internal investigation found that four students had assaulted a younger boy at a dormitory in January. The revelations sparked a backlash on social media that included calls for the team's expulsion, as well as a bomb threat and incidents in which Koryo students had been chased on their way to and from school. The summer tournament at Koshien stadium near Osaka features 49 teams and is one of the highlights of Japan's sporting calendar, drawing huge attendances and TV audiences in the millions. The event, first held in 1915, has launched the careers of a string of famous Japanese baseball players, including the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Koryo's principal, Masakazu Hori, told reporters that the school had decided to withdraw to protect students and staff. Describing the assault case as 'deeply regrettable', he added: 'We have decided to pull out, and will swiftly conduct an overhaul of our education method.' The school's investigation found that the unnamed boy had been shoved in the chest and slapped in the face, Japanese media said. He transferred to another school after his assailants apologised. The school reported the incident to the federation, which issued a reprimand but did not initially make it public. Police are reportedly investigating the January incident after the victim filed a complaint, and a third-party body is examining additional allegations made by a former member of the team. The baseball team's head coach, Tetsuyuki Nakai, has been relieved of his duties while the investigation is being carried out. The education minister, Toshiko Abe, voiced 'deep regret' over the 'inexcusable' actions of the students, but warned social media users not to post unfounded allegations against people connected to the school. It is not the first time that the tournament – Japan's biggest amateur sporting event – has found itself at the centre of allegations of abuse, which critics claim lie in its refusal to ditch its regimented approach to sport. In 2015, PL Gakuen high school, one of the tournament's most successful teams, said it would stop recruiting new players after allegations of violence and bullying. In 2023, the coach of another top team was forced to step down after being accused of physical abusing a player. And last month, players competing in a qualifying game for the Koshien tournament were ordered not to smile and wave at supporters during an opening ceremony, and instead march in an orderly fashion. The tournament's organiser, the Japan High School Baseball Federation, said it would 'continue efforts to eradicate violence, bullying and unreasonable hierarchical relationships'. Koryo, which has a tradition of producing professional players, is the first school in the tournament's long history to withdraw after the games have started. The withdrawal means that Koryo will forfeit its second-round game, which had been scheduled for Thursday. In a clip on social media, several members of the team Koryo defeated in their first-round fixture last week refused to observe the custom of shaking hands with their opponents at the end of the game.
Malay Mail
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
After bullying scandal explodes online, Japanese school pulls out of national high school baseball championships
TOKYO, Aug 10 — A Japanese high school hit by a bullying scandal has withdrawn from the country's hugely popular summer baseball tournament after a social media frenzy, officials said Sunday. The two-week 'Koshien' high school tournament is watched by millions on national television each year and has launched the careers of many of Japan's leading players. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish both earned their spurs in the tournament played at Koshien Stadium near the western city of Osaka. An outcry over alleged violence earlier this year at the baseball team of Koryo High School in the Hiroshima region prompted calls on social media for their withdrawal. 'We have decided to pull out, and will swiftly conduct an overhaul of our education method,' Masakazu Hori, the principal of the school in western Japan, told reporters. It is reportedly the first time that a school has exited mid-tournament over a scandal related to player violence. Koshien tournament co-organiser, the Japan High School Baseball Federation, on Sunday described Koryo High's decision as 'extremely regrettable' and vowed to continue efforts to 'eradicate violence, bullying and irrational hierarchical relationships'. Koryo High said on Wednesday that an internal investigation had found a first-year student on the baseball team had been assaulted by four of his senior teammates at their dormitory in January. Acts of violence included shoving him in the chest and slapping him in the face, with the victim then transferred to another school in March following an apology by his assailants, the school said. Koryo High reported the assault to the federation, was given a reprimand in March and did not initially publicise the incident. But emotional social media posts detailing the case went viral earlier this month, triggering an outpouring of anger against the school. Unsubstantiated information then swirled online about other instances of violence allegedly involving Koryo's baseball team. Koryo High principal Hori warned Sunday that the posts 'include pure speculation not based on facts, and slanders against unrelated students. 'Some of our students have been vilified and chased after, on their way to and from school,' he said, adding that even a bomb threat had been received. — AFP
CNA
10-08-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Japan school exits hugely popular baseball event over bullying
TOKYO: A Japanese high school hit by a bullying scandal has withdrawn from the country's hugely popular summer baseball tournament after a social media frenzy, officials said on Sunday (Aug 10). The two-week "Koshien" high school tournament is watched by millions on national television each year and has launched the careers of many of Japan's leading players. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish both earned their spurs in the tournament played at Koshien Stadium near the western city of Osaka. An outcry over alleged violence earlier this year at the baseball team of Koryo High School in the Hiroshima region prompted calls on social media for their withdrawal. "We have decided to pull out, and will swiftly conduct an overhaul of our education method," Masakazu Hori, the principal of the school in western Japan, told reporters. It is reportedly the first time that a school has exited mid-tournament over a scandal related to player violence. Koshien tournament co-organiser, the Japan High School Baseball Federation, on Sunday described Koryo High's decision as "extremely regrettable" and vowed to continue efforts to "eradicate violence, bullying and irrational hierarchical relationships". Koryo High said on Wednesday that an internal investigation had found a first-year student on the baseball team had been assaulted by four of his senior teammates at their dormitory in January. Acts of violence included shoving him in the chest and slapping him in the face, with the victim then transferred to another school in March following an apology by his assailants, the school said. Koryo High reported the assault to the federation, was given a reprimand in March and did not initially publicise the incident. But emotional social media posts detailing the case went viral earlier this month, triggering an outpouring of anger against the school. Unsubstantiated information then swirled online about other instances of violence allegedly involving Koryo's baseball team. Koryo High principal Hori warned Sunday that the posts "include pure speculation not based on facts, and slanders against unrelated students".
