Tsuneo Watanabe
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Tsuneo Watanabe (渡邉 恒雄, Watanabe Tsuneo, May 30, 1926 – December 19, 2024) was a Japanese journalist and newspaper executive. He was the Representative Director and Managing Editor of Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, which publishes the largest Japanese daily newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun and substantially controls the largest Japanese commercial television network Nippon Television Network.[1][2] He served as the Managing Editor of The Yomiuri Shimbun from 1985 until his death in 2024.
Under Watanabe's leadership, the daily circulation of The Yomiuri Shimbun toppled 10 million by 1994.[3] He became president and editor-in-chief of Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings in 2002, and later chairman and editor-in-chief in 2004.[3] Referring to himself as "the last dictator," Watanabe's leadership over The Yomiuri Shimbun was controversial, as he would not allow the newspaper to carry stories that contradicted its editorial tone and excluded anyone who objected it.[3]
When the Japan Professional Soccer League was established, he insisted that each football club should put each company's name on the football clubs. Usually, in Europe and the United States, each professional team or club put each city's name on the team. In August 2004, Watanabe resigned as Yomiuri Giants (owned by the Yomiuri Shimbun) president after it was revealed that the Giants baseball club had violated scouting rules by paying ¥2 million to pitching prospect Yasuhiro Ichiba. Ten months later, Watanabe was hired as chairman of the team.[4]
Concerned by the way unfinished business concerning the war continued to hinder Japan's progress, Watanabe set up a War Responsibility Re-examination Committee at Yomiuri Shimbun to undertake a 14-month investigation into the causes of Japan's Pacific War. The committee concluded that, "not only high-ranking government leaders, generals and admirals should shoulder the blame."[5]
Watanabe had close ties with a number of powerful Japanese political figures, including former Prime Ministers Yasuhiro Nakasone and Shinzo Abe.[3] Under Abe, Watanabe headed an advisory council on Japan's secrecy law from 2014 to 2016.[3]
Watanabe died of pneumonia at the age of 98 on December 19, 2024.[6]
Honours
[edit]
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2008)
References
[edit]- ^ Kelly, Tim (May 17, 2009). "Samurai Of Print". Forbes. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ Borden, Sam (March 5, 2006). "WORLD OF HURT. Hideki's choice not to play for Japan could cost him". Daily News. Retrieved August 28, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "Japanese media baron Tsuneo Watanabe dies at 98". Kyodo News. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Kyodo News, "Giants ax Kiyotake after vocal Watanabe slight", Japan Times, 19 November 2011, p. 16.
- ^ Taipei Times, "Beyond the bitter past, Taipei Times, 31 December 2006 p. 8; see also The Guardian[1], 28 December 2006.
- ^ "Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings Editor-in-Chief Tsuneo Watanabe Dies of Pneumonia at 98". The Japan News. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
External links
[edit]- Shadow Shogun Steps Into Light, to Change Japan. The New York Times, February 11, 2006.
- Tsuneo Watanabe named Cannes 2007 Media Person of the year
- The Most Powerful Publisher You’ve Never Heard of.'The Economist, November 14, 2007.
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