Shocking! Japanese national team legend allegedly grilled a junior with a red-hot fork? Eccentric act sparks massive controversy

*This content was translated by AI.

A legendary second baseman from the Japanese national team who represented Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) has been engulfed in an unimaginable allegation of assaulting a junior player. Beyond habitual misconduct, a bizarre revelation emerged that he "grilled a junior's bare skin with a red-hot fork," sending shockwaves through Japan's baseball community.

On the 16th, the Japanese weekly magazine Weekly Bunshun exposed testimony from club officials claiming that Hiroshima Toyo Carp's star infielder Kikuchi Ryosuke (36) subjected his junior player Hatsuki Ryutaro to so-called "grilling with fire" — a form of cruel treatment involving burning skin.

According to the report, the incident originated from victim Hatsuki's live broadcast on social media. In May, during a personal livestream, Hatsuki stated, "I was forced to drink alcohol under an unyielding hierarchical atmosphere imposed by my seniors." He further revealed, "Eventually, a fork heated red-hot with a lighter was pressed against the back of my neck, causing severe burns. The scars remain clearly visible even now." At that time, he did not disclose the perpetrator's name, but Weekly Bunshun's investigation identified the accused as none other than the team's senior veteran, Kikuchi.

According to testimony, the incident occurred during a joint autonomous training camp (date unspecified) held in Shizuoka Prefecture. This was a prestigious winter training session where Kikuchi, who has won the NPB second baseman Golden Glove award for 10 consecutive years Yeon Sok (수상), gathered juniors to share defensive techniques. However, club officials explained that during a meal, Hatsuki was forcibly made to drink despite being unable to consume alcohol. When Hatsuki dozed off due to intoxication, Kikuchi pressed a fork heated to high temperatures against his neck. Multiple baseball players were reportedly present at the scene besides Hatsuki.

The controversy has escalated uncontrollably due to Kikuchi's stature and current performance. Kikuchi is a national star who served as Japan's undisputed second baseman in major tournaments including the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and Tokyo Olympics. Notably, just before the report surfaced on September 13, he hit a two-run single as the fourth batter for the first time in three years against Yakult. He continued his hot streak with consecutive hits and RBIs on the 14th and 15th, maintaining a three-game hitting streak while performing as a key player in the first division. This season, he has appeared in 116 games, recording a .244 batting average (99 hits in 406 at-bats), seven home runs, and 34 RBIs. His defensive reliability is equally impressive, with only three errors committed.

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The Hiroshima club now faces a serious dilemma. In July, several of its players were subjected to police home searches over drug-related allegations. Additionally, the club had already removed starting infielder Kozo Kaiho, a national team veteran entangled in personal life controversies and accusations of shirking duties, from the first division roster on August 18 without hesitation. Under these circumstances, leaving Kikuchi — who faces serious allegations of assault amounting to criminal battery charges — unaddressed would inevitably invite accusations of lenient punishment and favoritism. Local public opinion is increasingly demanding his immediate removal from the roster pending the conclusion of fact-finding and disciplinary procedures.

On the field, a national team star once praised for dazzling defensive skills now finds himself pushed to the brink by a single red-hot fork.

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*This content was translated by AI.