Former Seibu “left ace” is now in trouble for a “loan sharking scam

Twenty years ago, in 2002, the Seibu Lions won the Pacific League of professional baseball. While Daisuke Matsuzaka (41), the absolute mainstay of the team, was out for a long time due to injury, there was a man who showed his lion’s share of success as the ace left fielder. He was Koji Mitsui (48), then in his second year as a professional. Mitsui played a full season as a starter and reliever, winning 10 games and participating in the World Baseball Banquet. In his nine years as a professional pitcher, he won a total of 36 games and left his mark on the history of the Young Lion Legion.

After retiring from baseball, Mitsui worked as a baseball commentator and coach for a baseball team for working adults, but this magazine caught wind of information that he was repeatedly involved in a “short-run scam. We heard from several victims who said that after lending money, repayment was postponed for any reason.

One man who lent Mitsui 1.2 million yen and has not received most of it back said, “Mitsui and I have a mutual acquaintance.

I met Mitsui about three years ago through a mutual acquaintance. Soon after, I received a message from him saying, ‘I was cheated by an investor in a past business and I need money, so I want you to lend me 1.2 million yen. As a former professional with a proven track record, I transferred the designated amount of money with the promise that the money would be repaid in installments. However, several months later, no repayment had been made. When I sent him a schedule to see him in person, he dodged and dodged, saying, ‘I have the flu and would like you to reschedule.

The victim consulted a lawyer and filed a lawsuit. The trial concluded in November 2008. The plaintiff’s claim was fully admitted, and Mitsui was ordered to pay 1.2 million yen. Mitsui did not appear in court.

However, even after the trial, there was no repayment of the debt. After contacting a mutual acquaintance, I finally received a message with a plan for future repayments, but the plan was not followed at all, with only a few transfers.

Another male victim also tells the following story.

Another male victim also recounted the following story: “I met Mitsui around ’19 in connection with my own business. One day, he contacted me and said, ‘My wallet was snatched on the train, so I need to borrow some money,’ and I wired him 100,000 yen. After that, I received another message saying, ‘I’m in a pinch to transfer money for my daughter’s school fees, and I need to borrow 400,000 yen,’ and I lent him a total of 500,000 yen. In the end, however, only a few small transfers were made, and there was no reply when I contacted a mutual acquaintance.

According to this magazine’s report, Mitsui “borrowed” from at least five people. Among them was Mr. Muneo Suzuki, a member of the House of Councilors. Mr. Muneo commented, “I have not had enough money for my children’s entrance and tuition fees.

I supported him with my own pocket money because he said he didn’t have enough money to pay for his child’s entrance and tuition fees. I am from the same hometown (Ashoro Town, Hokkaido) as Mr. Mitsui, and we are kindred spirits. I had heard from various people that Mr. Mitsui was causing trouble, and I was worried about him. He was a professional and had achieved some good results. He is still young, so I hope he will change his mind and come back.”

What in the world had happened? Mitsui is currently the manager of a boys’ hardball team in Chiba Prefecture. We interviewed him directly after practice.

–I’m Friday. I’m sure you were all worried about the debt.

Yes,…… we are in the process of paying back what we can little by little.

–What did you need the money for?

I started a baseball school a long time ago, but after I borrowed money to pay for the operation of the school, I couldn’t keep my head above water. The total debt now is about 5 million yen.

–Not for your children’s school fees?

Yes, that’s right. Various circumstances came together. ……”

What the victims were saying was that they wanted to know more than just the repayment of the money, but they wanted to know about their own circumstances. If there was a sincere explanation directly to them, they might be able to come up with a plan to “rescue” the former ace in his difficult circumstances. ……

From the September 9, 2022 issue of FRIDAY