BookTitleToyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Summary

Toyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Group companies. At the time Nisshin Tsusho launched its coal operations, therewere frequent strikes in the coal mines, so in preparation for a strike it openedthe Hirokawa Coal Yard in Nagoya Harbor. In September 1951, it opened theKawaguchi Coal Yard at Nakagawa Canal South Main Line 11, followed by, theShinohara Coal Yard at Nakagawa Canal Central Main Line 16 in October ofthat year. In September 1959, Toyoda Tsusho opened a coal yard at Central MainLine 9. In addition, Toyoda Tsusho concluded agency contracts with Toho Coke(currently Toho Liquefied Gas) for coke and with Mitsubishi Oil (currently JXTGNippon Oil and Energy Corp.) for oil as part of its efforts to provide a stablesupply of the fuels that were essential for recovery and economic growth.7 Organization of the Domestic Sales StructureWhen Nisshin Tsusho’s predecessor company, Toyota Sangyo, was established,its domestic sales structure consisted of the Sales Department at its headquartersand its Osaka Branch and Tokyo Office.In 1946, the Osaka Office was upgraded to a branch, and in July 1947 thatbranch moved to the Toyoda Building, at 3-8 Minami-honmach, Higashi-ku,Osaka-shi. When Nisshin Tsusho took over in July 1948, its office started witha staff of less than 30 people. After a year, its staff had grown to more than 50,and the company comprised a Spinning Section, Silk and Wool Section, CottonStaple Fiber Section, Trade Section, and General Affairs Section. However, itwas affected by the textile depression of 1952, and Nisshin Tsusho was forced todownsize its textile-related business.The Toyota Sangyo Tokyo Office was opened in November 1945 in theheadquarters of Tokai Hikoki (3-2-2, Yotsuya, Yotsuya-ku, Tokyo). In February1947, it continued to operate as an office following its move to Kanda Kamakuracho,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. It was promoted to a branch office in August 1948, soonafter Nisshin Tsusho was established. Initially it consisted of around 25 employeesorganized into General Affairs Section, Textile Machinery Section, Machineryand General Merchandise Section, and Delivery Section, but in July 1949 itmoved to the Toyoda Building (Toyoda Automatic Loom Building) in NihonbashiTomizawa-cho and added a Wool Section, Staple Fiber Section, and ImportSection. In addition to exporting textile machinery, it handled domestic sales ofthe Colleda motorcycle made by Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. (currently Suzuki MotorCorp.). After that, the staff expanded to 70 employees who worked to expand theimport and export business using the same building as a base.The Hamamatsu Office was opened in November 1948 in Owari-cho,Hamamatsu-shi. The small staff of just a few people started buying up cotton,velveteen and corduroy fabrics from local weavers. In May 1952, the office movedto Tokiwa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, and the number of employees exceeded 20.The Fukuoka Office was opened in Zaimoku-cho, Fukuoka-shi, in August 1951and began purchasing coal.In October of the same year, the Ichinomiya Office (Japan National RailwayIchinomiya Station [now the JR Owari-ichinomiya Station] building, 2nd floor)was opened with the goal of selling wool thread to local weavers. The TsushimaOffice (31, Nishiki-machi, Tsushima-shi) opened in October 1953 for the samepurpose.The Kyoto Office of the Toyota Sangyo was closed in January 1947.Osaka Branch (1948)Tokyo Branch (1949)Colleda Motorcycle Service Station (June 1950)Loom loading (Nagoya Port)History55