Kurashiki Ablaze’s PVL withdrawal tied to ex-coach Hideo Suzuki’s arrest

Former Kurashiki Ablaze coach Hideo Suzuki was arrested in Mizushima on Wednesday, September 10, on suspicion of indecent assault without the consent of a female acquaintance.

Japanese outlet Sanyo News reported that the incident allegedly took place between noon and 1 p.m. on May 17 in southern Okayama Prefecture. Suzuki, 48, was accused of approaching the woman and touching her body without consent. He has denied the allegations, claiming he has “no recollection” of the incident.

Although the police report did not mention Kurashiki by name, it confirmed that the suspect had served as head coach of the team since its founding in 2019.

KURASHIKI COACH ARRESTED 🇯🇵

Now-ex Kurashiki Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki was arrested in Japan after alleged acts of obscenity on a 20-year-old female.

Ablaze withdrew from the Invitational due to undisclosed team investigations. #PVL2025 @spinph

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— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) September 11, 2025

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The controversy is believed to be the reason behind Kurashiki’s sudden withdrawal from the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference. The Japanese squad made history in 2023 as the first foreign team to win a PVL title and bagged bronze in the 2024 edition.

On August 21, Daisuke Watanabe, representative director of Ablaze Co. Ltd., addressed the issue in an official statement:

“We regret to inform you that we received a notice from the Japan Volleyball League indicating that our head coach, Hideo Suzuki, may have committed a serious compliance violation. In response to this notification, our team has decided to immediately commence an internal investigation and suspend all activities until the details of the incident are fully clarified. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this sudden decision, made so close to the start of the tournament, may cause to all parties involved.”

Suzuki stepped down as Kurashiki’s head coach on Tuesday, September 9, while the club’s investigation was ongoing. He had been with the franchise since its inception and also served as its president, as the team was operated by a construction company.

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