Tsuneo Watanabe, The Godfather of the Yomiuri Group, passes away at 98

TOKYO — I read with sadness of the passing of Tsuneo Watanabe, the long time shogun of the Yomiuri Group, which publishes the Yoimirui Shimbun. He died recently at the age of 98 after a bout with pneumonia. He was so powerful I didn’t think he would ever actually die.

Under Watanabe’s leadership, the Yomiuri Shimbun became the largest newspaper in the world with a daily circulation of 12 million for its morning edition.

Watanabe was known for his close ties with political leaders, including many in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), especially Yasuhiro Nakasone. His editorial direction often supported conservative policies and advocated for constitutional revision, particularly revising Japan's pacifist Article 9.