Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), expressed willingness Monday to continue serving in the post beyond the end of his two-year term in May.
"If there are recommendations, I would like to continue with the job," Okuda said during a news conference.
But he said he needs to make final arrangements to formally express his intention to continue as head of Japan's most influential business lobby, and that he plans to make a formal announcement Dec. 22.
Okuda, also chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., was elected the first chairman of Nippon Keidanren in May 2002 during the inaugural general meeting of the entity, created through a merger of the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) and the Japan Federation of Employers Associations (Nikkeiren).
Whether he will agree to continue serving as Nippon Keidanren chief has drawn attention because he has said repeatedly the business body should be headed by a younger leader. He will turn 71 on Dec. 29.
Sources close to Okuda said he has apparently decided to continue in the job because of strong expectations that Toyota will lead an economic recovery.