The Yakult Swallows have applied to the executive committee of Nippon Professional Baseball to add "Tokyo" to their official team name, club president Yoshikazu Tagiku said Thursday.

The move is based on a proposal by new player-manager Atsuya Furuta for the Central League club to step up efforts to become more appealing to the local community using the new name -- the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Tagiku said.

The change needs approval by at least nine of the 12 clubs in Japanese professional baseball at a NPB executive committee and owners meeting.