OSAKA (Kyodo) Kyocera Corp., which has bought the right to rename the Osaka Dome for five years starting in April, has decided to retain the word "Osaka" in the dome's name in response to requests from local residents, company officials said Friday.
"We think our first priority is to contribute to the local community, and (we) value relations with local people. Thus we have decided to meet their requests," a company spokesman said.
Kyocera announced earlier this month that the name of the home stadium of the Orix Buffaloes baseball team would be Kyocera Dome until March 2011. But since then, local shop owners have submitted petitions urging the ceramics maker to leave Osaka in the name.
Local business leaders have also expressed opposition to the new name, saying it would be difficult for businesses to cooperate with the dome if it bears a corporate name.
Kyocera bought the right to name the dome, which is visited by 3.6 million people a year, to boost public awareness of the Kyocera group.
Kyocera also plans to put company logos on players' uniforms.
Osaka City Dome, which owns the facility, has sought protection from creditors under the corporate rehabilitation law. Its administrator has asked the Osaka Municipal Government to support the company following an unsuccessful auction of the firm.