Read the history
The Comeback –
Reconstruction
1933–1954
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1939
Company name changes to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
After Hachisaburo Hirao focused his energy on turning business around, Shosuke Itani was appointed as the fourth company president in 1935. Aircraft grew in importance, and so Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd. was established in 1937 to strengthen Kawasaki’s production system. The company's business had already expanded beyond shipbuilding, and the company changed its name to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. on December 1, 1939.
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1941
Aircraft carriers and submarines become main focus
When the Pacific War began, the construction of aircraft carriers and submarines became the main focus. Starting with Zuikaku, the first aircraft carrier, more than thirty ships had been constructed by the end of the war, such as Hiyo and Taiho. Air raids began intensifying in the final stages of the Pacific War, with Kobe being bombed extensively, and all Kawasaki Rolling Stock and Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd. factories also suffering immense damage. In 1945, the end of the war arrived.
Air raid damage to Kobe
Zuikaku
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1945
Postwar reconstruction
After the war, “a ban upon any specialized facilities for the production or repair of implements of war, including naval vessels and all forms of aircraft” was ordered by the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers (GHQ). Kawasaki utilized its remaining resources to manufacture kitchenware, such as frying pans, and farm equipment to get through these adverse circumstances.
Frying pans
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1950
Establishment of Kawasaki Steel Corporation
We established Kawasaki Steel Corporation based on the principle of the continuation of the company and spinning off the Steel Division into a second company. With the Shipping Division centered, Toshio Tezuka became the fifth company president.
Kawasaki Steel Corporation head office
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1954
Manufacture of helicopters begins (Bell 47D)
After the war, the production of aircraft was prohibited until the Treaty of Peace with Japan became effective in 1952.
Even after aircraft production resumed, re-establishing business presented a major challenge due to the large gap in production in the meantime. However, Kawasaki started designing a four-seat liaison aircraft at Gifu Works, and completed the KAL-1 liaison plane in 1953.
Focusing on developing helicopters at Akashi Works, the company entered a technical tie-up with Bell Aircraft Corporation of the United States in 1952, and completed the first helicopter made in Japan, the Kawasaki-Bell 47D-1 helicopter, in 1954. Kawasaki delivered six of these for the Ground Self-Defense Force.
Kawasaki-Bell 47D helicopter
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1954
Launch of Kawasaki-Go scooter
Our motorcycle business started with providing engines to motorcycle manufacturers. In 1954, we launched the Kawasaki-Go in collaboration with Kawasaki Gifu Works (currently Gifu Works). This Kawasaki-Go was the first two-wheeled vehicle to bear the Kawasaki logo.
Kawasaki-Go scooter