Bungo Shirai

Bungo Shirai
Born(1928-01-27)27 January 1928
Tahara, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Died29 October 2024(2024-10-29) (aged 96)
NationalityJapanese
Alma materShizuoka Prefectural Shizuoka Senior High School
Occupation(s)President of Chunichi Shimbun and owner of the Chunichi Dragons

Bungo Shirai (白井 文吾, Shirai Bungo, 27 January 1928 – 29 October 2024) was a Japanese journalist and businessman, who was the president of Chunichi Shimbun[1] and owner of Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Chunichi Dragons.

Early life

Shirai attended the predecessor to Aichi Prefectural Seisho High School for his middle school education, and graduated from Shizuoka Senior High School.

Career

Chunichi Shimbun Co.

In 1949 Shirai started working at Chubu Nippon Shimbun Co. (Now Chunichi Shimbun Co.)

As a journalist, Shirai covered violent crimes within the society department. While working with the society department he edited "Retsujitsu Saipantō" (The Blazing Sun of Saipan) in 1979, a book touching on the experiences of Japanese soldiers in Saipan during World War II.[2][3] Throughout his career at the company he held various positions within the Nagoya head office including department head of accounting, head of the Nagoya head office editing department and managing director.[4]

From 2007, Shirai served as president and chairman of Chunichi Shimbun and the Chunichi Dragons.[5][6]

Shirai was also on the board of the Japan Association of Major Theaters[7] as well as previously serving on the board of Meijo University in Nagoya.[8]

Chunichi Dragons

Shirai was known to have a close relationship with former Dragons player, manager and general manager Hiromitsu Ochiai whom he helped bring to the team.[9] After the Dragons lost to the Nippon Ham Fighters in the 2006 Japan Series Shirai stood by then manager, Ochiai and kept him on for the 2007 season ultimately leading to Chunichi's first Japan Series win in 53 years.[10]

Shirai was also known to have a dislike of the long-serving Kazuyoshi Tatsunami to a point where the player was convinced that he would never be manager of the team while the president remained in charge.[11]

Death

Shirai died on 29 October 2024, aged 96.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Chunichi Shimbun The". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  2. ^ "烈日サイパン島 （改訂新版）-中日新聞社会部【編】(紀伊国屋書店ウェブストア" [The Blazing Sun of Saipan - Chunichi Shimbun Society Department (Kinokuniya Book Store Webstore)]. Kinokuniya Book Store (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. ^ Shirai, Bungo, ed. (March 1979). 烈日サイパン島 [The Blazing Sun of Saipan] (in Japanese). Chunichi Shimbun. ISBN 978-4808301941.
  4. ^ "田原市ふるさと大使" [Ambassadors of Tahara City] (in Japanese). Tahara City Hall. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  5. ^ "株式会社全国新聞ネット役員人事内定" [Plans for new roles in Zenkoku Shimbun Net Co. Ltd]. 全国新聞ネット (in Japanese). 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. ^ "会社概要｜中日本開発株式会社" [Company Information: Central Japan Development Co.]. Central Japan Development Co. (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. ^ "当協会の概要" [About this association]. Japan Association of Major Theaters (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  8. ^ "平成19年度　事業報告書" [Meijo University Business Report for 2007] (PDF) (in Japanese). Meijo University. 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  9. ^ "白井オーナー「彼は『ああしろ、こうしろ』とは言わなかった」" [[Responses to GM Ochiai's step-down] Owner Shirai "He never said do this or do that.."] (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Shirai says Ochiai to return". Japan Times. Kyodo News. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  11. ^ "落合「中日のタブー暴露」講演会を実況中継（3）立浪派と山崎派が対立している" [Ochiai: "Chunichi's taboos exposed" in a broadcast lecture. Opposed to the Tatsunami and Yamasaki side"] (in Japanese). Livedoor. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  12. ^ "白井文吾・中日元オーナー死去、96歳 落合監督を招聘し黄金期、在任は球団史上最長の20年間". Chunichi. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.

See also