Sadayuki Sakakibara has begun a two-year term as baseball commissioner in Japan ©Getty Images

79-year-old Japanese business tycoon Sadayuki Sakakibara has begun his role as the new Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Commissioner.

He is set to serve a two-year term after being unanimously approved by the owners of the 12 professional teams.

"I would like to dedicate my best effort in further spreading the charm of the baseball and softball for the people around the world, especially in the Asia and Pacific region," Sakakibara said in a letter to World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari.

Sakakibara succeeds Atsushi Saito, who had been Commissioner since 2017.

Saito's tenure included hosting the 2019 WBSC Premier 12 finals in Tokyo and the Olympic tournament last year where Japan won gold.

Japan won Olympic baseball gold at the Tokyo Olympics ©Getty Images
Japan won Olympic baseball gold at the Tokyo Olympics ©Getty Images

Sakakibara is the 15th to hold the office of NPB Commissioner since the post was inaugurated in 1951.

It is considered the most important and influential post in the Japanese game.

Sakakibara previously had a long career at business and chemicals firm Toray Industries, and from 2014 to 2018 led business group Keidanren.

He later became chairman of Kansei Electric Power Company.