Japanese officials may now allow their athletes to ditch approved local swimsuit makers Mizuno, Descente and Asics in favour of Britain's Speedo for the Beijing Games.
"We are thinking of giving the swimmers the freedom to choose," Kazuo Sano, Japan Swimming Federation (JSF) executive director, told media in Tokyo.
"We have not had any big protest [from the three Japanese companies].
"We would like to do what's best for the swimmers in Beijing."
Kitajima cruised to a time of two minutes, 7.51 seconds in Tokyo on Sunday to take almost a second off the previous record held by American rival Brendan Hansen.
"He had the potential to break the world record," Norimasa Hirai, Kitajima's coach, told reporters.
"But unless he wears the LZR it's not a level playing field. They must let him wear it in Beijing."
Mizuno previously had a licensing tie-up with Speedo but developed their own brand last year which ended their association, taking with them many top swimmers, including Kitajima.
Confidence boost
"I would like to congratulate Kitajima, though it's a complicated feeling seeing him break the world record in a rival swimsuit," Jotaro Ueji, Mizuno's managing director, said.
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"If I don't win gold in Beijing I won't be coming back to Japan."
Kosuke Kitajima |
"In the two months left before the Olympics, I hope we can strive to develop an improved product for the swimmers to wear in Beijing."
Kitajima won gold in the 100 and 200 metres at the Athens Olympics four years ago but has been in the shadow of rival Hansen since.
"It was a perfect swim and has given my confidence a real lift," Kitajima said.
"If I don't win gold in Beijing I won't be coming back to Japan."
The 25-year-old had demanded Japanese swimmers be free to decide what to wear in Beijing before testing the LZR suit in Tokyo.
"It's a shame Japanese swimmers haven't been permitted to wear the Speedo suit," Kitajima told Reuters during the Olympic send-off competition in Tokyo.
"It is a terrific suit. You can see the results for yourselves."
Several world records have been broken over the last few months, almost all by swimmers wearing the LZR suits, which Speedo says reduces drag, muscle oscillation and skin vibration.