Eiji Bando, Japanese baseball star and TV personality, dies at 86

Eiji Bando, a former professional baseball pitcher and long‑time television personality, died of chronic heart failure on 22 July 2024 at the age of 86. He gained fame in the 1958 Summer Koshien tournament by recording 83 strikeouts, a record that still stands, and subsequently joined the Chunichi Dragons in 1959, compiling 77 wins over an 11‑year career.

After retiring from baseball, Bando became a household name as a TV host, notably on the science program “Magical Brain Power!!” and later on “World × Mysteries”. He also pursued acting, winning the Japan Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In recent years he lived a low‑key life following a head injury in 2020. Fellow entertainer Tetsuko Kuroyanagi posted a tribute on Instagram, recalling their long collaboration and personal anecdotes.