Isao Harimoto, the holder of Japanese professional baseball's record for most career hits and a well-known television commentator, has died at the age of 86, according to news.web.nhk.
Harimoto's playing career made him one of the most accomplished hitters in the history of the sport in Japan, and he remained a familiar figure to audiences long after retiring through his work as a commentator. news.web.nhk reports that he was known in that role for his sharp, direct style of criticism.
According to a report carried by Yahoo! News, Yakult Swallows manager Ikuyama mourned Harimoto and described a connection between the two that dated back to their high school days, saying members of the baseball club had listened to him. The Mainichi Shimbun reported on a different side of his public image, describing him as friendly, warm and impatient. Sports Hochi looked back on his life through archival photographs, while Sankei News noted his stance as a Japan-born Korean who argued for a forward-looking relationship between Japan and South Korea, including his view on repeated demands for apology.
