Akuzawa Tsuyoshi (阿久沢毅), formerly a 59-year-old high school teacher, switched careers to become president of the Gunma Crane Thunders. The club had 11 staff members and revenue of ¥200 million to ¥300 million when he took office, but revenue expanded to nearly ¥3 billion last season. The club has begun its campaign to become the inaugural B.PREMIER champion.
Ahead of the launch of B.PREMIER, Gunma Crane Thunders president Akuzawa Tsuyoshi (阿久沢毅), who was entrusted with running the club, was a former baseball player at Kiryu High School known as the “second Sadaharu Oh” (王貞治). Before the club turned professional, he spent 35 years as a teacher before stepping into a different sport at the age of 59. When he initially took office, the organization had around 11 people and revenue of approximately ¥200 million to ¥300 million.
His career change was prompted by encounters and invitations during his high school baseball years. After joining the club’s management, he dealt with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while handling both organizational development and event operations. Akuzawa himself says, “We have come this far not because of the president’s abilities, but because of the players, the GM and every employee.”
The club increased attendance at its new home, Open House Arena Ota. Average attendance reached 5,244, while revenue grew to ¥2.5 billion in 2024-25 and ¥3 billion in 2025-26. As a result, the club secured entry into B.PREMIER and will play its first game on 24 September 2026.
The journey so far has taken the club from a small organization of 11 people to a team aiming to become the inaugural champion of the new league. Akuzawa emphasizes that “we have all come this far together.” The efforts on the ground and the organization’s expansion appear to have driven the club’s rapid growth.
As Gunma takes its first step onto the stage of the new league, its future battles and growth are drawing attention.