Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
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These flags are based upon a booklet called Fune to Hata (Ships and Flags) published by the Nihon Maru Memorial Foundation in 1994 following an exhibit at the Yokahama Maritime Museum by the same name and during the same year. Photocopies of the flags were provided by Nozomi Kariyasu for these images.
The photocopies show actual flags, not artistic images. Several different
sizes are shown. The flags, particularly from 1916, are weathered and torn,
but allow for some degree in accuracy in representation.
Phil Nelson, 04 February 2002
See also:
Kita-Nihon Kisen equates to North Japan Steamship
Co. and with "Nippon" and "Nihon" having the same meaning it
is shown by World War 2 as Kita Nippon Kisen K.K. After World War 2 it is for
starts not mentioned until the late 1950s when Lloyds Shipowners record as
Kitanihon Kisen K.K. and then over the next couple of decades entries appear
also for Kita Nippon Kisen K.K. and then in the late 1970s a 3rd entry for Kitanihon-Oi
Kaiun K.K. appears and subsequently the latter becomes the sole entry and
operating until the late 1990s. The indications are that they were all one and
the same although different addresses are given. Certain ships provide a link as
does the livery but at the end there is still uncertainty in my mind as to
whether these suppositions are correct in any or part way. The flag shown is
supported by the funnel markings shown by Talbot-Booth in 1942 except that
whereas these would normally be an exact replica but in white on a black funnel,
he shows the top band continuing right through, but does show the markings as
being the same width as are the red bands etc on the flag. These equal bands are
changed by the post World War 2 sources of US Navy 1961, recording as Kita
Nippon Kisen K.K., and Brown 1995 [lgr95],
recording as Kitanihon-Oi Kaiun K.K. Both of these show the 2nd horizontal red
band and the two vertical lines as being wider than the white bands whilst the
other horizontal red bands are narrower than the white. The vertical lines are
also shown further apart being placed at the 1/3 and 2/3 points of the flag
length. Whether this indicates that there was a change in the design or whether
they are not even connected is as uncertain as the supposed name link.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003
The flag is white with a red logo in the center. Now, this logo (two horizontal bars crossed in the center by one vertical bar) strikes me as a potential character. (at least its shape is similar to that of the katakana character "kya" キ)
Regarding the company itself, I found very few references.
It's obviously based in the island of Kyushu. And apparently, according to
World Shipping Directory
it's still operational with an address at Kurahashi, Aki-gun, Japan. And
according to The Ships List it had at
least one ship registered in Osaka, the Toyoura Maru.
Jorge Candeias, 3 July 2006
Kyushu Yusen. There is a Kyushu Yusen K.K. still
operating as a ferry company but Lloyds have it being formed in 1920 so this
1910 date may mean no connection or it may be a forerunner.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003
Nanyo Yusen K.K. changed name c.1950 to Tokyo
Senpaku K.K.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003
The company became shown as Nippon Enkai Ferry K.K.
before in 1990 becoming K.K. Blue Highway Line, continuing to operate as a
subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.
Neale Rosanoski, 3 January 2004
The photograph shows a crease in the center stripe, but it is unclear whether this would make all stripes of equal width.
Nissin Kisen. Also noted as Nisshin Kisen Kaisha or the Japan-China
Steamship Co. formed 1907 by 4 lines including NYK
and OSK being merged 1939 into Toa Kaiun K.K. (East
Asia Navigation) which was dissolved in 1946 by the Allies. According to a
very knowledgeable source the flag was actually of 5 equal bands of 3 red and
2 white yet on the other hand the original funnel had 4 white bands separated
by equal widths of funnel possibly representing the 4 original founders and
normally the funnel markings of Japanese companies are the same as those of
the flag except in early days it was usual to have the flag in red and white
changing to black and white on the funnel with often a colour reversal being
made and the flag red design being placed on a black funnel as white with the
white of the flag design becoming part of the funnel black. In this case,
based on the funnel, one would expect the flag to have 4 red bands and 3 white
as per the 1916 flag and for the bands to be equal.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003