The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on Tuesday approved the entry of online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc.
The move is seen as an effort by Japan's largest business lobby to solicit members from newly emerging industries as the industrial structure of the country continues to rapidly change.
The core members of the influential business group have traditionally been companies from heavy industry, such as steelmakers, automobile manufacturers and electric power firms.
However, entertainment companies, including Horipro Inc. and Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., were allowed entry in 2002. Consumer loan firms have also been encouraged to enter the group.
Nippon Keidanren Chairman Hiroshi Okuda has close personal ties with Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani and is serving as an adviser to Mikitani's newly formed pro baseball team, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
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