Watanabe got opportunities to appear as a commentator on NHK General TV, NHK Educational TV, Nippon TV and Tokyo Broadcasting TV , raised his name recognition, and was elected to the House of Councillors representing the Liberal Democratic Party in the 2013 election. NHK had published his book from the affiliated publisher "NHK Publishing". As of January 2014, he was the wealthiest member of the House of Councillors with reported personal assets of 1.76 billion yen. He is a member of the Committee on Economy and Industry, Committee on Oversight of Administration, Special Committee on Reconstruction after the Great East Japan earthquake, and Research Committee on Deflation-Ending Measures and Strengthening Public Finance for Nationals' Life.