On August 20, NYK held a party at the Sapporo Grand Hotel in Sapporo to commemorate the opening of the company’s Hokkaido branch. 127 guests were welcomed, including Tsuyoshi Mitsuhashi, deputy governor of Hokkaido, and Katsuhiro Akimoto, mayor of Sapporo. In addition to NYK President Takaya Soga, managing executive officers Yutaka Ikeda, Hironobu Watanabe, and Takuji Banno and 56 members of NYK Group companies attended the event.

On behalf of the guests, Deputy Governor Mitsuhashi offered his congratulations: “I am delighted that we have signed an agreement on collaboration and cooperation with NYK. We are excited to work together for the sustainable revitalization of Hokkaido.”

NYK President Soga expressed his hope for stronger cooperation between Hokkaido and the NYK Group: "I would like to thank all of you for your support and cooperation in opening this branch. The history of Hokkaido and our company dates back to 1875, when the predecessor of NYK, Mitsubishi Shokai, opened a regular shipping route to Hokkaido , where I spent my formative years. We aim to be a company that is needed by society, and with the Hokkaido branch as a starting point, we will work together with the stakeholders and contribute to the economy of Hokkaido."

The Hokkaido branch officially opened in April. This is the first branch in Hokkaido since the company’s Sapporo branch was closed in 2009. By opening this branch, we will further strengthen the NYK Group's existing businesses in Hokkaido, including energy-transportation and logistics services for electric power and gas companies, and automobile and container transportation services. In addition, aiming to contribute to the resolution of logistics issues and the sustainable revitalization of Hokkaido, NYK concluded an agreement on collaboration and cooperation with the Hokkaido Prefectural Government in January this year. With the Hokkaido branch as a starting point, the NYK Group will deepen cooperation with the prefecture and respond to the promotion of green innovation in Hokkaido, logistics demand resulting from the construction of semiconductor plants and data centers, and the growing demand for marine transportation due to modal shifts.

Outline of Hokkaido Branch
Name: NYK Line Hokkaido Branch
Location: 8F Urbannet Sapporo Building, 6-1-2 Kita1jonishi, Chuo, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, 060-0001
Contact: +81-11-557-8102
Branch Manager: Masahiro Morimoto

Major NYK Group Companies Operating in Hokkaido
Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd. / Kinkai Yusen Hokkaido Co., Ltd.
Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd.
Hokuyo Kaiun Co. Ltd.
Yusen Koun Co., Ltd. / Yusen Koun Hokkaido Co., Ltd.