Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Rakuten Inc., Japan's largest Internet shopping mall operator, won approval to start the first professional baseball team in the country in 50 years. The Rakuten Eagles, based in Sendai, will start play next April.

Rakuten edged out a bid by Internet service provider Livedoor Co., which was also trying to form a team in the northern Japanese city. The Nippon Professional Baseball owners' association announced its decision at a news conference in Tokyo.

Rakuten and Livedoor were vying to form a team after the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave merger in September left the Pacific League with five teams. The Pacific League competes with the Central League, which includes the Yomiuri Giants among its six teams.

The merger of the Buffaloes and BlueWave, the former teams of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo and Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, prompted Japanese ballplayers to strike for the first time in the league's 70-year history.

Rakuten last month said the manager for the new team will be former Hanshin Tigers outfielder Yasushi Tao and American sports commentator Marty Kuehnert will be the general manager. The new team's full name is the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Livedoor in August was turned down when it sought to buy the financially ailing Buffaloes team from railway and retail group Kintetsu Corp.

Softbank Corp., Japan's second-largest provider of high-speed Internet service, last month said it wants to buy Daiei Inc.'s baseball team, the Hawks. Daiei, the nation's third-largest retailer, is seeking state help with its third bailout in three years. Daiei said the team isn't for sale.

To contact the reporter on this story: Daisuke Takato in Tokyo at dtakato@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 2, 2004 03:58 EST