Kyokuto KOWA Corporation

Kyokuto KOWA Corporation (極東興和株式会社) is a Japanese general construction company headquartered in Hiroshima, built around prestressed concrete (PC) technology. Its business spans the construction of new bridges, the maintenance, renewal and repair of aging infrastructure, building construction, and the supply of high-quality concrete products. The company states that it has completed more than 18,000 bridges, with projects distributed across Japan, and it positions itself as a comprehensive construction firm contributing to safe and prosperous communities through bridge, building, infrastructure and maintenance work. The company's roots trace to 1939, when Kowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was founded. After several name changes and the start of PC sleeper production, the modern construction lineage began with the 1948 founding of Railway Gravel Industry Co., Ltd. in Hiroshima. The company adopted the name Kyokuto Kogyo Co., Ltd. in 1954 and later became Kyokuto Kowa Corporation through a 2008 merger. It has been part of the BR Holdings group since a 2002 share transfer created the holding company structure. Kyokuto KOWA operates a nationwide network of branches, sales offices and factories, including locations in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Shikoku, Fukuoka and other regions, supported by concrete product plants in Shizuoka, Hiroshima, Gotsu and Oita. Its technical credentials include the Japan Society of Civil Engineers Tanaka Award for the Ota River Bridge (attached pedestrian bridge), and it continues to invest in technology development for the maintenance and long-life extension of social infrastructure. The company is led by President Takashi Yamane.

The corporate lineage of Kyokuto KOWA Corporation begins on June 17, 1939, with the founding of Kowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (興和化学産業株式会社). In 1943 the company changed its name to Koa Aviation Industry Co., Ltd. (興亜航空工業株式会社), and in 1945 it became Kowa Industry Co., Ltd. (興和産業株式会社), at which point it began manufacturing prestressed concrete (PC) sleepers. A separate company, Railway Gravel Industry Co., Ltd. (鉄道砂利工業株式会社), was founded on March 12, 1948, in Hiroshima, undertaking trackbed preparation work in Osuka-cho, Hiroshima. In 1949 the head office moved to the former cavalry grounds in Futabanosato, Hiroshima; an Okayama branch and the Hiroshima RC plant were established, and the company registered with the Minister of Construction. Track work began in 1950, followed by a license agreement for the Freyssinet method in 1952. In 1953 the Otake PC plant opened, PC sleeper production started, and the company completed its first PC bridge near Kamisuwa Station in Nagano Prefecture and its first PC building at Hamamatsucho Station platform canopy in Tokyo. The company's own first PC bridge, Enoki Bridge in Fuchu-cho, was completed in 1954, the same year the company changed its name to Kyokuto Kogyo Co., Ltd. (極東工業株式会社). In 1955 it received its first post-tensioning order for Minato Bridge in Kochi Prefecture, and in 1956 it changed its name to Kowa Concrete Co., Ltd. (興和コンクリート株式会社) and executed its first post-tensioning work on Akagawa Bridge in Akita Prefecture. During the late 1950s and 1960s the company expanded its sales network with offices in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Tokyo and Sendai, and opened factories in Toyohashi, Gotsu, Otsuki, Kobe, Uenohara, Isawa and Sagamihara. It produced PC sleepers for the Tokaido Shinkansen and supplied sleepers for the Shinkansen from 1964. In 1965 it signed a license for the MDC method, and in 1967 it worked on the Nishiyodo No. 1 section PC girder project. In 1968 it established the affiliate Kyokuto Crushed Stone Co., Ltd. and opened the Isawa plant; in 1969 the building division became independent as Kowa Building Industry Co., Ltd. and the Sagamihara plant opened. In 1970 the head office moved to Mitsumachi, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima. The company produced and erected PC girders for the Sanyo Shinkansen Minamino BV and other structures, and began producing track slabs for the Sanyo Shinkansen. In 1971 it signed a license for the Prebeam method, and in 1972 began Sanyo Shinkansen track slab production, opened the Hiroshima plant, and signed a license for the Tsurumi-type box culvert. A Hiroshima branch opened in 1973, a Tokyo office in 1974, and box culvert work began in 1975. The affiliate Kyokuto Ocean Development Co., Ltd. was established in 1975. In 1978 the Shiraishi plant opened, followed by the Fukushima plant in 1980. Overseas work began in 1980 with an order for an Iraqi expressway. The Oita plant opened in 1981, and a Yamanashi sales office was added. In the 1980s the company received orders for the push-launch method (1984, 1988), the Dywidag method (1985), movable scaffolding (1989), the cantilever method (1989) and cable-stayed bridges (1990). In 1991 it received an order for an egg-shaped digester and opened the Uenohara equipment center. In 1992 it established a first-class architect office and jointly invested in K.N. Information System Co., Ltd. A Shizuoka sales office opened in 1994, and in 1996 it registered as a construction consultant and established Kyokuto Takamiya Plant Co., Ltd. (now Kyokuto Takamiya Co., Ltd.). In 1998 the Hiroshima branch obtained ISO 9001 certification. In 1999 the company listed its shares on the Hiroshima Stock Exchange, and in 2000 it listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In 2001 the head office obtained ISO 9001 certification, a Nara sales office opened, and the repair division became independent as Kowa Technos Co., Ltd. In 2002 the company transferred its shares to a newly established holding company, BR Holdings Corporation, which listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange while Kyokuto Kogyo was delisted. In 2003 the company began producing track slabs for the Taiwan High Speed Rail, its first overseas project of that kind. In 2005 it again carried out a share transfer to BR Holdings. In 2006 the entire company obtained ISO 14001 certification, registered as a construction consultant, and opened the Fukuoka sales office, Hachinohe plant and Omuta plant. In 2008, through a merger, the company changed its name to Kyokuto KOWA Corporation (極東興和株式会社).

• Kowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. founded

• Renamed Koa Aviation Industry Co., Ltd.

• Renamed Kowa Industry Co., Ltd.; began PC sleeper production

• Railway Gravel Industry Co., Ltd. founded in Hiroshima

• Head office moved to Futabanosato, Hiroshima; Okayama branch and Hiroshima RC plant established

• Freyssinet method license agreement signed

• Otake PC plant opened; first PC bridge and first PC building completed

• First company PC bridge (Enoki Bridge) completed; renamed Kyokuto Kogyo Co., Ltd.

• First post-tensioning order received for Minato Bridge, Kochi

• Renamed Kowa Concrete Co., Ltd.; first post-tensioning work executed on Akagawa Bridge

• Tokaido Shinkansen PC sleeper production began

• Shinkansen PC sleepers delivered

• Head office moved to Mitsumachi, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima

• Sanyo Shinkansen track slab production began; Hiroshima plant opened

• First overseas order: Iraqi expressway

• Listed on the Hiroshima Stock Exchange

• Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

• Share transfer to BR Holdings Corporation; delisted

• Began producing track slabs for Taiwan High Speed Rail

• Renamed Kyokuto KOWA Corporation through merger

Comprehensive construction company leveraging top-class domestic prestressed concrete technology to support transportation infrastructure nationwide.

• New bridge construction

  Construction of new bridges supporting transportation infrastructure.

• Maintenance and renewal

  Renewal and repair of aging structures to improve safety and extend service life.

• Building construction

  Construction of public and private buildings.

• Concrete products

  Supply of high-quality concrete products.

1. 1極東興和株式会社 公式サイトkkn.co.jp
2. 2沿革 - 極東興和株式会社kkn.co.jp
3. 3企業情報 - 極東興和株式会社kkn.co.jp
4. 4事業所一覧・組織図 - 極東興和株式会社kkn.co.jp
5. 5Kyokuto KOWA Corporation (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org