Company History | Nitto Logistics

Nitto's history is synonymous with the history of distribution and logistical strategy.

In September of 1926, a company by the name Nitto Transportation Co., Ltd. was founded as a limited partnership so that it can conduct business in Kobe and Osaka, primarily as a shipping agency and providing port transport. In March of 1943, Nitto was reborn as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., and has since expanded the scope of its operations from Osaka, Kobe and Tokyo, to include Mizushima, Shikoku and Nagoya, its growth paralleling that of regional economies.

September, 1926	Kyokuto Kaiun Shokai and Asahigumi formed a limited partnership and founded Nitto Unyu limited partnership company headquartered in Kobe with branches in Kawaguchi and Chikko in Osaka. As a shipping agency, it handled about a dozen shipping routes, collecting and sorting, shipping business by barge as well as loading cargo and other auxiliary work for Kawasaki Kisen, Toyo Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha, and several other shippers. Nitto's work helped cement Kobe and Osaka ports' status in the port transport industry.
December, 1942	Due to a government ordinance, the port transport business was among those that were forcibly consolidated into a one-port, one-company system. As a result, most of Nitto's employees, its shipping and various other related facilities were absorbed by a port transport company for the two ports combined, and Nitto was dissolved.
March, 1943	The ordinance, however, made an exception to shipping agencies. Taking advantage of this exception and with the full subsidization from Kawasaki Kisen, Nitto Transportation Co., Ltd. re-emerged with great success as a shipping agent representing Kawasaki Kisen, Toyo Kisen K.K., Hinode Kisen K.K., Nittetsu Kisen K.K. and others, and as a cargo collection and sorting agent for Manshu Kaiun K.K., which at the time was able to operate due to its exclusion from the ordinance.
November, 1951	Nitto began tugboat operations.	Vehicles shortly after the time started to land transport business in Mizushima
April, 1962	Nitto opened its Mizushima Branch in Mizushima in Kurashiki, and took on product and raw material transport for Kawasaki Steel Corp.'s Mizushima plant. It also began operations as a shipping agent in Mizushima port.
December, 1967	With full container assignments for Kawasaki Kisen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Japan Line, Yamashita-Shinnihon Steamship Co.,Ltd. to the North American Pacific Coast, the four shipping companies joined forces with Mitsui-Soko Co., Ltd., The Sumitomo Warehouse Co.,Ltd., and Kamigumi Co.,Ltd.to form the join venture, Kobe Container Terminal Kabushiki Kaisha, which became the first in the industry to handle full container and its affiliated businesses in Kobe port.
March, 1973	The Port Island Terminal opened at the Kobe Port Island L-2, allowing the company to begin operating its cargo sorting storage shed with a liner berth (area: 18,000 square meters, building area: 5,400 square meters) Kawasaki Kisen's exclusive usage of the Nanko C-3 berth at Sumiyoshi-ku in Osaka for its full container vessels launches Nitto's operation of this berth.
April, 1982	Operation of the C-12 Terminal on Port Island in Chuo-ku, Kobe, began. Nitto started operations in the Port of Kobe container terminal for Kawasaki Kisen.
September, 1992	Operations began at the newly constructed Tamashima distribution warehouse.	First ship after the earthquake, "Seto Bridge"
January, 1995	The Great Hanshin Earthquake caused extensive damage to Nitto's facilities.
November, 1997	The new Chukyo Sales Office and the Nagoya sales office opened. They began operations August 1998.
April, 1999	On the cusp of the 21st century, Nitto changed its name to Nitto Total Logistics, Ltd., demonstrating its future goal of becoming an integrated distribution enterprise.
August, 2001	The headquarter was transferred to Port Island in Kobe.
December, 2002	The Nanko Distribution Center No. 2 Warehouse opened in the Nanko District of Osaka, and began operations.
April, 2004	Operations were transferred from Rokko Island C-3 Terminal to the C-4 terminal.
November, 2006	Received an ISO14001 certification, an internationally certified environmental management system.	Osaka Distribution Center
December, 2007	The Osaka Distribution Center opened in the Nanko District of Osaka and began operations.
March, 2013	The book "Nitto's 70-Year History Distribution" was published to celebrate the company's 70th anniversary.
July, 2015	Nitto merged Kokusai Logistics Co.,Ltd.
December, 2015	Acquired certification of AEO certified customs broker from Kobe Customs.
January, 2018	Acquired Construction Business License, in response to expansion of Heavy Machinery Relocation and Installation Business.