HINODE KISEN K.K. (1).

The Tokyo company changed its funnel in the 1930s. Brown shows a blue flag, which Rosanoski attributes to printing restrictions; Alan Watt confirms the field as purple. The flag resembles that of Toyo Kisen.

The Japanese Shipowners Association chart’s broad H133 funnel band is confirmed by a photograph of Aizu. Its website translation reads “Hinode Yusen”, assumed by Rosanoski to mean the same company. Mitchell also gives this funnel to Maruni Shokai, recorded as an associate between 1978–79 and 1985–86.

The Tokyo company was formed on 25 November 1912 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in May 1949. It joined the Showa group in April 1964 under the shipping-industry reconstruction law, entered the NYK group following NYK’s acquisition of Showa Line in October 1998, and became wholly owned in February 2001 through an equity swap. It changed its name to NYK Hinode Line in July 2002. The source also records joint ventures with Toyo Kisen, Nippon Yusosen, Daiwa Shosen and Nippon Kisen.

Japan, Tokyo. The source explicitly marks the Osaka entry for this company as incorrect.