Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu

Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu Co., Ltd. (丸建つばさ交通株式会社) is a Japanese transportation company headquartered in Komuro, Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama Prefecture. It was established in November 2020 as a successor to Maruken Jidosha, a bus operator that had filed for civil rehabilitation in May 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bus demand. After the rehabilitation proceedings were discontinued and Maruken Jidosha transitioned to bankruptcy, Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu, backed by Tsubasa Kanko Bus (a company based in Hasuda, Saitama), signed a business transfer agreement on December 10, 2020, and received approval from the Kanto District Transport Bureau on February 12, 2021. It took over all operations on February 16, 2021, and began operating under the same "Ken-chan Bus" (けんちゃんバス) nickname. The company operates route buses, chartered buses, specific transport services, and welfare taxis. Its route bus network, branded "Ken-chan Bus," serves the cities of Saitama, Ageo, Okegawa, Kitamoto, Hasuda, and the town of Ina in Saitama Prefecture. It also operates community buses such as the Ageo City循环巴士 "Gurutto-kun" (since April 1, 2025) and the "Ken-chan Bus" routes. The company has two offices: the headquarters office in Ina-machi (route buses) and the Ageo office (chartered buses, specific transport, and nursing care taxis). As of its official company overview, it has 60 employees and 47 vehicles (24 route buses, 5 chartered buses, 14 specific transport vehicles, and 3 nursing care taxis). Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu is a private company with capital of 36 million yen. Its representative director is Kiyokazu Saito. The company is a member of the Japan Bus Association, the Saitama Prefecture Bus Association, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, and the Saitama Prefecture Travel Agents Association. It continues to provide essential regional transport services in Saitama Prefecture, maintaining the legacy of the "Ken-chan Bus" brand.

Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu was established in November 2020 as a successor to Maruken Jidosha, a bus operator that had been running route buses under the nickname "Ken-chan Bus" in Saitama Prefecture. Maruken Jidosha filed for civil rehabilitation proceedings on May 19, 2020, due to a decline in bus demand caused by the spread of COVID-19. Although Maruken Jidosha began business transfer negotiations with a sponsor candidate, the negotiations failed to reach an agreement that would satisfy the liquidation value required under the Civil Rehabilitation Act. Consequently, on October 30, 2020, the company received a decision to discontinue rehabilitation proceedings and an order for provisional administration, and simultaneously transitioned to bankruptcy proceedings. During the provisional administration period, on December 10, 2020, Maruken Jidosha signed an agreement with Tsubasa Kanko Bus, headquartered in Hasuda, Saitama, to transfer all of Maruken Jidosha's businesses to Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu, which had been established by Tsubasa Kanko Bus in November 2020. The Kanto District Transport Bureau granted approval for the business transfer on February 12, 2021. Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu took over all operations from Maruken Jidosha on February 16, 2021, and began operating. Its headquarters was placed in Ina-machi, Saitama Prefecture, and the president of Tsubasa Kanko Bus also served as its president. The "Ken-chan Bus" nickname was retained. After the transfer, the company continued to operate route buses, chartered buses, and welfare taxis. In April 2023, it sequentially introduced WAON electronic money payment on all routes. In April 2025, it took over the operation of the Ageo City循环巴士 "Gurutto-kun." The company has also discontinued or suspended some routes, such as the Omiya Station West Exit循环 (ended January 30, 2023, and March 31, 2025), the Shiraoka Chuo Hospital Line (ended March 13, 2024, and March 31, 2025), and the Ageo Station East Exit - Round One Ageo - Ina Hospital Line (ended March 31, 2025). The Kamifukuoka Station - AEON Town Fujimino shuttle bus has been suspended since October 1, 2022. As of its official company overview, Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu has 60 employees and 47 vehicles (24 route buses, 5 chartered buses, 14 specific transport vehicles, and 3 nursing care taxis). It received 62 vehicles from the former Maruken Jidosha. New vehicles introduced after the establishment of Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu feature a common color scheme with Tsubasa Kanko Bus.

• Maruken Tsubasa Kotsu established.

• Business transfer agreement signed with Maruken Jidosha.

• Approval for business transfer received from Kanto District Transport Bureau.

• Took over all operations from Maruken Jidosha and began operating.

• WAON payment sequentially introduced on all routes.

• Took over operation of Ageo City循环巴士 "Gurutto-kun".

Regional community-focused transport provider in Saitama Prefecture, continuing the Ken-chan Bus brand.

• Ken-chan Bus route network

  Route bus services in Saitama, Ageo, Okegawa, Kitamoto, Hasuda, and Ina.

• Gurutto-kun community bus

  Ageo City循环巴士 operated since April 1, 2025.

• Chartered buses

  General chartered bus services, including large lift-equipped buses.

• Welfare taxis

  Nursing care taxis and specific transport services.

1. 1丸建つばさ交通株式会社 | 公式サイトmaru-ken.co.jp
2. 2会社概要 | 丸建つばさ交通株式会社maru-ken.co.jp
3. 3丸建翼交通 - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4丸建つばさ交通 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org