Departures of note

Motonori Watanabe (1944 – 2026) was a prominent Japanese high school baseball coach. Born in Matsuda, Kanagawa Prefecture, he attended Yokohama High School and later Kanagawa University before an injury ended his playing career. After a stint in industry, he returned to his alma mater in the autumn of 1968 as the baseball team’s head coach.

During his tenure, Watanabe guided Yokohama High School to five national championships across the spring and summer Koshien tournaments, including a historic spring‑summer double in 1998. He was instrumental in developing future professional talent, most notably Daisuke Matsuzaka, who went on to star for the Boston Red Sox and the Japanese national team.

In addition to coaching, Watanabe earned a teaching credential from Kanto Gakuin University and served as a social studies teacher, emphasizing the importance of life lessons beyond the baseball diamond. He remained active in the sport until a stroke in 2004, after which he continued to support the team from the dugout. Watanabe passed away on 17 August 2026 at the age of 81.