Ito Tsutomu played as a pitcher for the Japanese professional baseball team Seibu Lions from 1982 until 2003, during which time he led the team to 12 Pacific League championships and 10 Japan Series wins. He retired in 2003 and became the manager of the team in 2004, when he led the team to a Japan Series championship.

He debuted as a sports commentator in 2007, and now works as both a commentator and sports critic.

In Kyou Kara Maou, it's implied that Ito Tsutomu is the coach Yuuri looks up to.