[Scoop] Seiya Watanabe, a Candidate for the Seibu Lions’ “Future No. 4 Hitter,” Has Tied the Knot in a “True Love Marriage”!

His “loving wife,” who has supported him since middle school

A couple walks hand in hand under the neon lights of the downtown district, far from the stadium spotlights. Even dressed casually in a T-shirt and shorts instead of his uniform, the strapping young man with an impressively built physique is Seiya Watanabe (24) of the Saitama Seibu Lions.

“Selected as the second overall pick in the ’24 draft, he joined the team from Osaka University of Commerce. With a 50-meter dash time of 6.0 seconds flat, a strong arm capable of throwing 110 meters, and 12 home runs this year, he is a promising prospect who excels in all three aspects of the game: hitting, running, and fielding.

He is the first player in the franchise’s history in 39 years—since Kazuhiro Kiyohara (59)—to hit double-digit home runs in two consecutive seasons starting as a rookie. This season, he has been entrusted with key spots in the lineup, such as the No. 3 or No. 5 spot, and is viewed as a “future candidate for the No. 4 spot,”” said a reporter for a baseball magazine.

Beside this young lion stood a beautiful woman who resembled actress Fuka Koshiba, snuggled close to him. Watanabe took the woman to a yakiniku restaurant famous for its Kuroge Wagyu beef.

Along the way, the two walked arm in arm, leaning close together as they enjoyed their conversation. Their lovey-dovey behavior was so obvious it made even the onlookers feel a bit embarrassed. Although the downtown area was bustling with people during dinner hour, they showed no signs of trying to hide their relationship. They carried themselves with confidence.Who exactly is this beautiful woman who has captured the heart of the young star player?

“She’s Ms. A, Watanabe’s ‘beloved wife.’ Although it hasn’t been made public, I’ve heard that Watanabe is actually married. Ms. A is an ordinary woman from Hiroshima, just like him. The two started dating in middle school and have reportedly never broken up.

Watanabe is especially head over heels for her. Even while he was attending a top baseball high school and living in a dorm, they kept in touch regularly,” said an acquaintance of Watanabe’s.

In the game the day before this yakiniku date, Watanabe had smashed a spectacular home run over the back screen to score the first run of the game. Perhaps the two of them raised a modest toast just for themselves that day. After finishing their meal and stepping out of the restaurant, Watanabe had a satisfied smile on his face.

This season, scandals have been plaguing Japanese professional baseball. Amid questions about the ethics of baseball players, Watanabe’s earnest and pure demeanor is truly touching. For the sake of the sport and the fans, we hope this will be a year of great strides for him, both on and off the field.

The October 16 issue of *FRIDAY*, on sale October 2, and the paid version *FRIDAY GOLD* feature a detailed report on the yakiniku date, accompanied by numerous photos.

From the October 16, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*