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