Rolf Eckrodt, president and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motor Corp., on Friday became the first non-Japanese to take part in a closed traditional lunch meeting at one of Japan's major business conglomerates, the Mitsubishi group.

The gathering is known as Kinyokai, or Friday Club. It is held every second Friday of every month except August. Kinyokai participants are chairmen and presidents of 28 Mitsubishi group companies, including Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd. and MMC.

Eckrodt was officially appointed as the automaker's president at the firm's annual shareholders' meeting in late June, a position that qualifies him as a Kinyokai member.

"I feel honor to be a member of the exclusive club of managers," said Eckrodt, a German native who was sent to MMC from German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG, which holds a 37.3 percent stake in MMC. "After 18 months at MMC, I feel very integrated in (the) Mitsubishi group.

"I would like to be an active member (of Kinyokai) and bring my international experiences."

The tradition began in 1954 as a friendly lunch gathering of the group's executives, who exchange information on their companies and discuss social and cultural issues, according to Kinyokai's management. They also invite guest speakers from different fields.

On Friday, Eckrodt sat with 41 other top executives from the Mitsubishi group, had curried beef and salad, and introduced himself simply as one of two new members who joined the club this month.

Minoru Makihara, Kinyokai moderator and chairman of Mitsubishi Corp., said in a prepared statement, "We all look forward to Mr. Eckrodt's participation, as he will no doubt bring the club a new international perspective and will strengthen the activities of the club."