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

Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
7-Eleven Japan is releasing Greedy chocolate chip and whipped cream sandwiches
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
7-Eleven Japan is releasing Greedy chocolate chip and whipped cream sandwiches
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan now has ramen machines…but only at 41 stores
Starbucks Japan adds a new Frappuccino and Milk to the menu, but are they worth the calories?
Saltiest ramen in Japan? Ikebukuro White goes viral for crazy salt levels
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival
Japan releases new ramen sandwiches… that don’t taste like ramen
Don’t miss the Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia ~Summer Landscape 2026~ event during your travels
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan now has ramen machines…but only at 41 stores
Starbucks Japan adds a new Frappuccino and Milk to the menu, but are they worth the calories?
Saltiest ramen in Japan? Ikebukuro White goes viral for crazy salt levels
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Live-action Princess Mononoke stage cast appears in costume for first time[Video]
7-Eleven Japan upsizes popular products like egg sando and pork ramen but how big are they really?
Japan’s life-size moving Gundam closes down, gets sent off in style with fireworks, drone art 【Video】
“They’ve got be kidding me.” – Mayor in Japan fed up with off-season Mt. Fuji hikers needing rescue
Nintendo reveals live-action Legend of Zelda movie is coming sooner than we’d thought
Tokyo’s new life-size Gundam giant robot statue to be completed, open to public next month
Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival