On July 23, as the Koryo High School baseball team was preparing for the prefectural semifinals the next day to earn a spot at the famed Summer Koshien tournament, one mother in western Japan did something that would shake the high school baseball establishment — and the nation.
Her 16-year-old son, Hideki (a pseudonym), had been part of Koryo’s celebrated baseball program which made 26 appearances in the Summer Koshien and produced several elite professional players. Hideki’s dream, since second grade, was to play at Koshien Stadium. But Hideki was no longer on the team. He had dropped out after being bullied six months earlier.
After rounds of family meetings, Hideki’s parents decided to speak out about their son’s experience. That day, the mother created a new Instagram account with the username whatisjustice0122.
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