Tsutsui Yoshinobu, the former head of Nippon Life Insurance, was appointed chair of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) on May 29, 2025. He stepped down from his position at Nippon Life to take the new role, becoming the first leader of the influential economic organization to come from the finance industry.
The Keidanren chair serves two terms over a period of four years. Although the position’s influence has waned since Japan’s high economic growth period, it continues to impact national politics by representing industry interests and advocating for public opinion. Tsutsui’s appointment breaks the unwritten rule that the chair should come from a manufacturing background. Notably, he is also the first chair not to come from a listed company, as Nippon Life Insurance is a mutual company owned by its policyholders.
Tsutsui’s career trajectory includes becoming president of Nippon Life Insurance in 2011, overseeing the acquisition of Mitsui Life Insurance (now Taiju Life Insurance) in 2015, and strengthening the company’s revenue base. He was appointed chairman of Nippon Life in April 2018 and became a Keidanren vice chair in 2023. Additionally, he was tapped as the inaugural chair of the GX (Green Transformation) Acceleration Agency in July 2024, a government-established body pushing forward decarbonization efforts.
Tsutsui’s appointment as Keidanren chair marks a significant shift in the organization’s leadership, bringing a financial industry perspective to the forefront. His background and experience position him to address current economic challenges and advocate for industry interests effectively.
