Since its founding, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has been the nation's most powerful business lobby and its head is often called "the prime minister of the business world."

For most of the postwar period, the organization has represented the voice of big business in Japan and has been a strong supporter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. But as its membership expanded to include smaller businesses and foreign companies, and as scandals forced the organization to stop soliciting donations from member firms to fund political parties, its role has changed.

In April, its headquarters relocated to a new 23-story building from an office built in 1966, marking a fresh start.