Iijima Akimi (飯島彰己), 75, has been informally selected as the next commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball. Formal approval is scheduled for the November general meeting, and he is due to take office on 7 December. Until then, he will serve as an adviser to Nippon Professional Baseball.
At a meeting of the owners of Nippon Professional Baseball’s 12 clubs, Iijima Akimi (飯島彰己) was informally selected as the next commissioner. Formal approval will be given at the regular general meeting of members and the owners’ meeting on 18 November, and he will take office on 7 December. Until then, he is expected to serve as an adviser to Nippon Professional Baseball.
Iijima Akimi (飯島彰己) served as president and chairman of Mitsui & Co. and was vice chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) from 2015 to 2019. In 2023, he received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. Tomoko Namba (南場智子), owner of DeNA and chair of the owners’ meeting, said Iijima Akimi (飯島彰己) had the ability to address challenges including internationalization and promising players’ aspirations to play in MLB.
The appointment is viewed as a selection made with a view to addressing the major challenges facing professional baseball and was approved by a committee of the owners’ meeting. Iijima Akimi (飯島彰己) is also regarded as being valued for his understanding of and passion for professional baseball.