Television coverage of baseball in Japan really takes you inside the game like no other.
The Japanese collegiate sports world was rocked recently by a dirty tackle executed by a football player from one of the nation’s top schools and the furious finger-pointing that ensued in its wake.
Luckily, we still have university baseball as a bastion of sportsmanship and honor, and that’s not all! In a recent University of Tokyo game, as second baseman Hirata “Hira-chan” Masaki appeared on camera, the caption below his name held a startling revelation about the player.
▼ Caption: “Wanted to make goldfish macho and put protein in the aquarium”
今日一番面白い情報が来た pic.twitter.com/rTvw1UlPqn
— 🍑のん🍑🍥 (@Aice5_mdk) May 27, 2018
If you’re a completionist who likes to know everything – and I mean everything – there is to know about the game and its players, you’ll appreciate this little tidbit. Otherwise you’ll probably just be weirded out by it. It triggered the imaginations of other Twitter users, who posted what something like that might turn out like.
https://twitter.com/Lawrence_0326/status/1000640084721319937これ思い出したわ pic.twitter.com/UNXlYEMPzB
— ケント (@fa2013_k) May 27, 2018
This is far from the first time TV graphics people have decided to have a little fun. During the last nationwide election, there was a spate of odd subtitles when winners were declared, including proclamations that Minister of Finance Taro Aso liked One Piece and PM Shinzo Abe loves Black Thunder chocolate bars.
安倍さんブラックサンダー好きとか
— ひ な (@hi_na_0917) October 27, 2017
好感度上がりまくった
18歳になったら投票します!!! pic.twitter.com/q3KeWsaz4m
It’s not always clear how accurate these factoids are. It’s certainly believable that Abe loves Black Thunder, because you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t love those thrifty packets of chocolatey goodness. Sure enough, a quick search reveals that he does quite enjoy them.
安倍さんもブラックサンダー好きみたい笑
— マシュマロ (@marshmallow0755) October 23, 2017
かわいい❀˳꒰*ॢ´◡`*ॢ꒱❀#ブラックサンダー pic.twitter.com/GJ8O8zhkum
As for Masaki, a quick look at his bio reveals that he is enrolled in the School of Agricultural and Life Sciences majoring in Chemistry of Bio-based Materials. Therefore, feeding protein to goldfish doesn’t seem entirely out of his wheelhouse. Perhaps the broadcaster was just being facetious about his actual research.
That’s important to know, because if you happen to want to buff up your own goldfish, you shouldn’t go tossing chunks of hamburger into the bowl. It’ll probably end badly. Instead leave it to the scientist pioneers of tomorrow, like second baseman Hira-chan to find the best way to achieve fins of steel.
Source: Twitter/@Aice5_mdk, The University of Tokyo Baseball Club
Featured image: Twitter/@Aice5_mdk

Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
Studio Ghibli releases trilingual warning criticizing sales of illegally copied artwork
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
Studio Ghibli releases trilingual warning criticizing sales of illegally copied artwork
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Fire breaks out in Kyoto hotel, mobile battery to blame
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Fire breaks out in Kyoto hotel, mobile battery to blame
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
The town with Japan’s best castle also has one of Japan’s best breakfasts. Here’s where to eat it
Japan’s super easy sweet potato spread lets you make sweet potato bread thanks to Don Quijote
Genuine Muramasa blade and Muromachi katana on display at Tokyo’s Touken Ranbu store【Photos】
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Studio Ghibli unleashes Turnip Head on the world
Real-life Japanese adult film actresses listed as Imperial Army agents in Chinese period drama