Tribute Watanabe Tsuneo: A Legacy of Secret Meetings and Bold Moments

A major influence in politics, media, and the baseball world.

Watanabe Tsuneo, who held significant influence in media, politics, and the baseball world as the head of the Yomiuri Shimbun Group, passed away at the age of 98 on the morning of the 19th from pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo.

Watanabe, who rose to prominence as a political reporter at Yomiuri Shimbun, became the company’s president and editor-in-chief in 1991. During his tenure, the newspaper achieved a circulation of 10 million copies in 1994. He maintained strong connections with key political figures, including former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, and held considerable influence over policy discussions, such as constitutional reform, reduced tax rates, and grand coalition ideas. His involvement in politics, despite being a media figure, often drew criticism.

His influence was particularly notable in professional baseball, especially with the Yomiuri Giants. Although he had no prior interest in baseball, he became involved in the management of the team around 1989 and became its owner in 1996. During the 2004 baseball league reorganization dispute, he advocated for a single-league system, but it was met with strong opposition from the public and players, leading to its collapse. Amidst the controversy that year, a scandal involving under-the-table money for draft prospects surfaced, and Watanabe resigned.

However, in June 2005, he returned as the team’s chairman. In November 2011, he was accused by then team representative Hidetoshi Kiyota of improperly intervening in coaching personnel decisions. Despite such challenges, his power remained unshaken, and he was even known to refer to himself as a dictator.

Here, we present a selection of articles we’ve reported on Watanabe Tsuneo (note: titles and names reflect the time of the reporting).

Secret Meetings at a Traditional Inn with the President of Soka Gakkai and Senior Officials from the LDP and Komeito (October 8, 1999 Issue)

On September 17, 1999, during the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election, Watanabe Tsuneo was spotted at a high-end inn in Chiyoda, Tokyo, a place frequently used by politicians for secret talks. He appeared at the entrance of the establishment, chatting with several men wearing parliamentary badges. Following him were two figures: Yuya Niwa (55), the Deputy Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, and Chikara Sakaguchi (65), the Chairman of the Policy Research Council of Komeito. Niwa, at the time, was believed to be part of a faction opposed to a coalition with Komeito, making the pairing quite unexpected. But the biggest surprise came when none other than Einosuke Akiya, the President of Soka Gakkai, appeared next.

The presence of these key figures—the media mogul Watanabe, the president of Soka Gakkai who influenced Komeito, and senior LDP officials opposed to a coalition with Komeito—raised questions about the discussions taking place behind closed doors. Our magazine confronted Watanabe about the meeting, but he refused to comment. Just a month later, on October 5, Komeito, previously an opposition party, joined the coalition government with the LDP and the Liberal Party. This event further underscored Watanabe’s significant influence.

 

Watanabe’s Ambition for a Single-League System: The Entire Process (July 30, 2004 Issue)

On the night of July 12, 2004, after finishing a meal at a hotel restaurant in Tokyo, Watanabe Tsuneo was approached by over 20 reporters and TV crews asking for comments on the ongoing baseball league reorganization. In response, Watanabe used a Yomiuri Shimbun employee as a shield and refused to speak, reportedly shouting:

“I’m done being used for this conspiracy to destroy baseball! I won’t say another word from now on!”

The issue stemmed from a backlash against owner-led reforms in the baseball world, with players’ union president Atsuya Furuta (38) of the Yakult Swallows demanding discussions with the owners. Watanabe had been quoted on July 9 saying, “You need to know your place, a mere player,” which caused a public outcry. Protests flooded Yomiuri Shimbun in response. Watanabe seemed to blame the media for triggering the situation, growing upset over the controversy.

 

Watanabe Tsuneo, Giants Owner: The Full Truth Behind His Tearful Sudden Resignation (September 3, 2004 Issue)

On August 8, 2004, a golf competition took place at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel Golf Course in Nagano Prefecture, attended by Watanabe Tsuneo and other top executives from the Yomiuri Shimbun. During the round, Watanabe appeared relaxed, occasionally smoking a cigar, while his playing partner, Takuo Takibana (65), the president of Yomiuri Shimbun’s Tokyo headquarters, seemed visibly tense.

Just five days later, on August 13, Watanabe resigned as the Giants’ owner after it was revealed that he had given 200,000 yen in cash to a university student who was a draft prospect. However, by the time of the golf competition, it had already been decided that Takibana would take over as the new owner.

In addition to this, our magazine conducted numerous interviews and reports about Watanabe. He continued working at the company until the end of November when his health declined. Even just days before his death, he reportedly reviewed editorials and continued to fulfill his duties as editor-in-chief. Watanabe, who wielded far too much power for a journalist, leaves behind an undeniable legacy. We offer our deepest condolences.