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Houseflags of Japanese shipping companies

Last modified: 2007-12-22 by phil nelson
Keywords: maritime shipping | mon |
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Arimura Sangyo K.K.

[Arimura Sangyo] image by Jarig Bakker, 7 December 2005
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of Shipping Companies of the World [lgr95]

Naha - white flag, red circle, red "A".
Jarig Bakker, 7 December 2005

There is a report (26 June 1999) from the Okinawa Times concerning a possible bankruptcy of "one of the two major shipping companies in Okinawa".

The company owns three ships and has three leased ships in its fleet, moving cargo between Naha and major mainland ports such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, and Nagoya. It also has lines to Ishigaki and Miyako, and overseas routes to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Jan Mertens, 15 July 2006

Asahi Kaiun K.K.

[Asahi Kaiun K.K.] image by Phil Nelson

Asahi Kaiun K.K. This belongs to the company formed 1946 based Tokyo and still operating. The name is popular as I have traced 15 other companies bearing the same name at different locations, and there may be more, in Lloyds, although some of their entries in the late 1970s when they moved into the computer era got a bit confused.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003

Asahi Kisen K.K.

[Asahi Kisen K.K.] image by Jarig Bakker, 8 September 2005
Source: Brown’s Flags and Funnels of Shipping Companies of the World, 1995 [lgr95]

Kobe - white flag, red "A".
Jarig Bakker, 8 September 2005

Awaji Ferryboats K.K.

[Awaji Ferryboats]
image by Jarig Bakker, 1 November 2005
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of the World [lgr95]

Kobe - Spanish-style Red-White-Red; on white big red "A".
Jarig Bakker, 19 November 2005

Awanokuni Kyodo Kisen K.K.

[Awanokuni Kyodo Kisen K.K.] image by Phil Nelson

Awanokuni Kyodo Kisen K.K. appears to have operated from circa World War 2 to the early 1970s.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003

Boyo Kisen K.K.

[Boyo Kisen K.K.]
image by Jarig Bakker, 1 February 2006
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of Shipping Companies of the World [lgr95]

Yamaguchi - Gambia-style White-Red-Blue-Red-White flag; in center white "B".
Jarig Bakker, 1 February 2006

Capt. Line

Capt. Line image by Eugene Ipavec, 15 November 2007

Capt. Line – the abbreviation for ‘Captain’ seems intentional – is a tourist shipping company active in the harbour of Osaka, Japan. The website is in Japanese only.

Besides touring Osaka harbour the firm seems to operate some fixed routes, one of them leading to and from Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, and to offer party excursions and charters.

The house flag – presented as a drawing – is blue bearing yellow captain’s rank stripes (at least I accept them as such), placed diagonally, and on some boats, i.e. stripes and flag painted on the hulls, and the flag itself on top. So it is real after all, not a fancy - rank stripes on a house flag are rare, but not unheard of.
Jan Mertens, 13 November 2007

Daido Kaiun K.K.

[Daido Kaiun K.K.] image by Phil Nelson

Diado Kaiun K.K. formed 1930 and merged into Japan Line Ltd. in 1964.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003

Diamond Ferry K.K.

[Diamond Ferry K.K.] image by Jarig Bakker, 19 December 2005
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of Shipping Companies of the World [lgr95]

Oita - red flag with a hoisttriangle reaching the fly, and a narrow yellow hoisttriangle; on white a black outlined dolphin (?) over a bit of black seaweed (?),
Jarig Bakker, 19 December 2005

Dowa Line Co., Ltd

[Dowa Line] image contributed by Jan Mertens, 30 April 2007
Source: Dowa Lines website

Dowa Line Co., Ltd is yet another Tokyo-based shipping company flying a simple house flag in the national colours – see the company homepage.

The flag is white, bearing a dashing red stylized initial ‘D’. The homepage lists various industrial and insurance firms as stockholders of Dowa which was founded in 1957 as Dowa Kaiun, starting out as a coastal shipping company operating “mini-bulkers”. Cooperation with Indonesia, importing wood.

The firm was renamed Dowa Line Co. in 1979, founding US subsidiary two years later with a view to strategic expansion. Transports to and from North America include grain, wood. Real estate is a new field of business. (Most of the above gleaned from the ‘History’ section.)

About two dozen bulk carriers, all Japanese built, are listed in the ‘Fleet’ section’.
Jan Mertens, 30 April 2007

Eastern Car Liner Ltd.

[Eastern Car Liner]
image by Jarig Bakker, 19 November 2005
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of the World [lgr95]

Tokyo - white flag, blue (kinda) "E".
Jarig Bakker, 19 November 2005

Everett-Orient Line Inc.

[Everett-Orient Line Inc.]
image by Jarig Bakker, 1 February 2006
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of Shipping Companies of the World [lgr95]

Tokyo - blue flag, white diamond, red "E".
Jarig Bakker, 1 February 2006