Strolling around the nation's biggest IT-electronics show, visitors might notice the absence of some familiar brands.

Traditionally, the CEATEC trade show, which kicked off Wednesday at Makuhari Messe in the city of Chiba, has been a place for Japan's major electronics players to show off cutting-edge technology and products, but in recent years more firms have opted to skip the event.

While Sony Corp. and Hitachi Ltd. have been absent over the last few years, Toshiba Corp. — now mired in an accounting scandal — decided not to join this year. From other fields, NTT Docomo Inc., a regular participant for more than a decade, has abandoned the event this year while Toyota Motor Corp. has chosen not to participate for the first time in four years.