Former Construction Ministry vice minister Hajime Toyokura was named the new president of the Central League on Monday to replace Sumiko Takahara, who decided earlier this month to resign because of an ongoing battle with cancer.
Pacific League clubs also named former Mainichi Shimbun President Tadao Koike their new president to replace outgoing Kazuo Harano, giving each league a new leader to welcome the new century.
Toyokura joined the Construction Ministry out of the University of Tokyo in 1953 and in 1985 was named vice minister.
He oversaw the construction of the Hanshin Expressway and in 1995 took over as president of the East Japan Construction Surety Co.
The Central League board of directors learned of Takahara's plans to resign earlier this month. They will seek approval for their selection of Toyokura from the club owners in January.
Takahara, former head of the Economic Planning Agency and ambassador to Finland, took over as CL president in March 1998.