The Hidden Truth Behind Shigeo Nagashima’s Health — Who Really Knew What Was Going On?

Who were the people who knew Mr. Nagashima’s true medical condition?

A tremendously great figure who helped firmly establish professional baseball’s popularity in Japanese society closed the chapter of his life on June 3. Shigeo Nagashima, who served as the Giants’ manager for two terms spanning 15 years, passed away from pneumonia at the age of 89.

The news of the death of the lifelong honorary manager, affectionately known as “Mr.,” shook the media outlets. Nippon TV immediately arranged a special emergency two-hour program starting at 7 p.m.

“On the morning of the 3rd, no TV listings mentioned Nagashima’s death yet, so we assumed his health had suddenly worsened. Honestly, at the ground level, we learned about the situation first from the Yomiuri Shimbun’s initial report. Rumors about Nagashima’s poor health had circulated repeatedly since around 2018. Because it was uncertain when his condition might suddenly change, we had prepared video materials for years,” said a Nippon TV insider.

As these words indicate, rumors of something abnormal happening to Shigeo Nagashima’s health often surfaced within the industry. Each time, reporters routinely stayed at the hospital in Tokyo.

“After he suffered a stroke in 2004, there were several occasions when ‘Nagashima’s condition is critical’ rumors circulated. In October 2018, there was even a report that his whereabouts were unknown, prompting us to camp outside the hospital. Given his advanced age, similar rumors appeared repeatedly afterward, so we stayed alert each time. When we asked the assigned reporters, they often gave vague answers as information was tightly controlled. As sports newspapers, we absolutely could not miss reporting Nagashima’s obituary. He had that much influence in the baseball and sports worlds,” said a sports newspaper journalist.

In fact, a Yomiuri Shimbun insider revealed that Nagashima was a special presence even within the Yomiuri Group.

“I believe only the core executive team at the Tokyo headquarters and a very limited number of people in the sports department truly knew the exact condition of Shigeo Nagashima. I’ve heard that only a select few handle releasing information, publishing articles, and deciding how much space to dedicate to it in the papers. For the Yomiuri Group, this underscores just how significant Shigeo Nagashima was.”

 Even Yomiuri group’s assigned reporters didn’t know

Even the group’s assigned reporters struggled with how to handle the information. At the same time, preparations were quietly underway behind the scenes.

“Since falling ill, Mr. Nagashima had rarely been directly involved on the field. That was his nature to begin with, but I also feel it was because he understood the magnitude of his influence. Health-related updates didn’t come from the front lines, but rather trickled down selectively from headquarters to a limited circle to avoid leaks. It may sound inappropriate, but honestly, considering his condition, it’s remarkable that he lived to be 89,” said a source from Sports Hochi.

Yet even while unwell, he never forgot to visit the ballfield whenever he could.

“He took particular interest after Shinnosuke Abe (46) became manager of the Giants. His emotional connection to Shinnosuke was extraordinary—he entrusted him with the starting catcher role during his rookie season. Visiting the Giants’ training facility or Tokyo Dome became something he looked forward to, helping him endure the battle with his illness.

When Hideki Matsui (50) was asked at his retirement press conference what stood out most in his playing career, he teared up and replied, ‘The time I spent taking practice swings with Manager Nagashima.’ That shows just how special their relationship was. Mr. Nagashima was generally cheerful and demanding with everyone, without showing favoritism. But his feelings for Shinnosuke were as deep and heartfelt as those he had for Matsui,” the same source added.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (68) also shared his thoughts upon hearing the news:

“He was everyone’s shining star. No matter how down you were, just seeing Mr. Nagashima would brighten everything up. That, I believe, is what made him truly deserving of the People’s Honor Award.”

The passing of “Mr. Pro Baseball” has left not only the baseball world, but the entire nation of Japan, in deep mourning.