This company had its origin in a small fish transporting business inherited by Mr. Ikujiro Nakabe from his father in 1880. In 1904 it was expanded to include purse seining with power boats. As the business prospered, Mr. Nakabe incorporated his company, the Hayashikane Shoten Co, Ltd, with paid up capital of ¥25,000,000. The company continued to flourish and expanded operations to include steam trawling, Danish seine fishing, fishing with traps, purse seining, and whaling. The Enyo Wnaling Co, Ltd, was organized by Mr Nakabe in l929 for whaling from shore bases on the Japanese islands.
The Taiyo Whaling Co, Ltd, was organized by Mr Nakabe in June 1936 as a separate company to carry on whaling in the Antarctic. This company operated two whaling factory ships of the 20,OOO-ton class and 19 whale catcher boats. The companies were amalgamated by government order in April 1943 and on 15 December 1945, the company's present name, Taiyo Gyogyo KK, was adopted.
