Chiba Lotte Marines team president Ryuzo Setoyama will step down at the end of the 2011 season.
Setoyama said Sunday he is not resigning to take responsibility for the 2010 Japan Series champions' lackluster performance this year but simply because he wants a break from the everyday stress of running the front office.
"It's stressful doing this for eight years. I want to take some time off for myself," Setoyama said.
Senior club official Akira Ishikawa, the No. 2 in charge, is also leaving. Their replacements have not yet been decided.
Setoyama was the team representative for the Daiei Hawks before he took the same job with Lotte in 2004 and became club president two years later.