Fujinagata Shipyards
Encyclopedia
was a shipyard
and railroad car
manufacturer in Osaka
, Japan
.
to produce sail warship
s for the new Tokugawa feudal navy. In 1869, with the assistance of German engineers
, the western-style warships were designed and produced.
After the Meiji Restoration
, the shipyards concentrated on civilian applications, and in 1870 launched its first western-style commercial steam vessel. This was a first for a privately-held shipbuilder in Japan.
In 1874, the shipyards were relocated to Nishi-ku, Osaka
and the company name officially changed to Fujinagata Shipyards. In 1884, the main shipyards was relocated to Taisho-ku, Osaka
.
In 1900, Fujinagata completed its first all-metal construction merchant vessel; the No.2 Nagata Maru
. In 1917, new shipyards in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
were opened. Fujinagata became was designated an official naval repair facility in 1919.
On May 31, 1921, the Momi class destroyer
Fuji was launched, marking the first of 56 destroyer
s that Fujinagata would eventually build for the Imperial Japanese Navy
.
With new naval contracts, Fujinagata moved its head office into new facilities and expanded its capability rapidly. However, it expanded too quickly and soon fell into financial difficulties causing its shipbuilding business to come under the accounting supervision of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan
in December 1928. However, Fujinagata was able to weather the turmoil of the Great Depression
without significant difficulty.
In 1940, along with most businesses of strategic importance to the Japanese war effort, Fujinagata was nationalized
under the Navy Ministry. In December 1944, Fujinagata had 16,508 employees. It is estimated that perhaps half of the employees at that time were ethnic Koreans
, and at least 150 were Australian
prisoners of war, who were supplying forced labor in violation of the Geneva Conventions
.
In June 1945, Fujinagata's main shipyards were destroyed during large scale air raids
towards the end of World War II
.
After World War II, Fujinagata was restored to private ownership and recovered by building fishing vessels, merchant vessels and tankers
. In 1962, it completed its first LNG carrier
. In October 1967, the company was purchased by Mitsui Shipbuilding and Engineering
, thus ending its long history as the oldest independent shipbuilder in Japan.
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
and railroad car
Railroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
manufacturer in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
History
Fujinagata claimed to have been founded in 1689, making it one of the oldest shipbuilders in Japan. Originally called Hyōgo-ya, and located in central Osaka, it was contracted in 1854 by officials representing the Tokugawa shogunateTokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
to produce sail warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s for the new Tokugawa feudal navy. In 1869, with the assistance of German engineers
O-yatoi gaikokujin
The Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan, known in Japanese as oyatoi gaikokujin , were those foreign advisors hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji era. The term is sometimes...
, the western-style warships were designed and produced.
After the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, the shipyards concentrated on civilian applications, and in 1870 launched its first western-style commercial steam vessel. This was a first for a privately-held shipbuilder in Japan.
In 1874, the shipyards were relocated to Nishi-ku, Osaka
Nishi-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. It is in the west of central Osaka , and is generally flat. 80% of the area was destroyed by bombing in World War II, and was not regenerated until the mid 1960s....
and the company name officially changed to Fujinagata Shipyards. In 1884, the main shipyards was relocated to Taisho-ku, Osaka
Taisho-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. As of October 1, 2006, the ward has an estimated population of 72,742 and the total area is 9.43 km². - Transport :...
.
In 1900, Fujinagata completed its first all-metal construction merchant vessel; the No.2 Nagata Maru
Nagata Maru
The was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Tokyo. The ship was went into service in 1937.The name Nagata Maru derives from Nagata jinja, a Shinto shrine in Nagata Ward, Kobe, Japan.-History:...
. In 1917, new shipyards in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. It is located on the southern part of the Uemachi Plateau, in the southern most part of Osaka City, and is separated from Sakai City's Sakai-ku and Kita-ku by the Yamato River...
were opened. Fujinagata became was designated an official naval repair facility in 1919.
On May 31, 1921, the Momi class destroyer
Momi class destroyer
The Momi class destroyers was a class of twenty one 2nd class destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. All were named for plants. Obsolete by the beginning of the Pacific War, the Momi were relegated to mostly secondary roles, with some vessels serving throughout the war as patrol vessels...
Fuji was launched, marking the first of 56 destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s that Fujinagata would eventually build for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
.
With new naval contracts, Fujinagata moved its head office into new facilities and expanded its capability rapidly. However, it expanded too quickly and soon fell into financial difficulties causing its shipbuilding business to come under the accounting supervision of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan
Ministry of the Navy of Japan
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan charged with the administrative affairs of the Imperial Japanese Navy . It existed from 1872 to 1945.-History:...
in December 1928. However, Fujinagata was able to weather the turmoil of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
without significant difficulty.
In 1940, along with most businesses of strategic importance to the Japanese war effort, Fujinagata was nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
under the Navy Ministry. In December 1944, Fujinagata had 16,508 employees. It is estimated that perhaps half of the employees at that time were ethnic Koreans
Zainichi
Zainichi is a Japanese term meaning " residing in Japan," used often to point out Zainichi Koreans.*Zainichi Korean or Zainichi Chōsenjin or Zainichi Kankokujin .*Zainichi Gaikokujin , meaning "foreigner in Japan".*Zainichi Beigun...
, and at least 150 were Australian
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
prisoners of war, who were supplying forced labor in violation of the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
.
In June 1945, Fujinagata's main shipyards were destroyed during large scale air raids
Bombing of Osaka in World War II
The U.S. bombing of Osaka during World War II first took place from the middle of the night on March 13th, 1945, to the early morning of the next day. There were also bomb raids on June 6th, 7th, 15th, 26th, July 10th, 24th, and August 14th, the last day of the war...
towards the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After World War II, Fujinagata was restored to private ownership and recovered by building fishing vessels, merchant vessels and tankers
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
. In 1962, it completed its first LNG carrier
LNG carrier
An LNG carrier is a tank ship designed for transporting liquefied natural gas . As the LNG market grows rapidly, the fleet of LNG carriers continues to experience tremendous growth.-History:...
. In October 1967, the company was purchased by Mitsui Shipbuilding and Engineering
Mitsui
is one of the largest corporate conglomerates in Japan and one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world.-History:Founded by Mitsui Takatoshi , who was the fourth son of a shopkeeper in Matsusaka, in what is now today's Mie prefecture...
, thus ending its long history as the oldest independent shipbuilder in Japan.