The original funnel has four white bands separated by equal widths of the funnel colour, possibly representing the four founders. Watt’s five-band flag drawing was subsequently acknowledged as erroneous and corrected to seven in his next instalment. Rosanoski reasons that a corresponding flag would have four red and three white equal stripes, while recording the conflicting five-band advice he had received.
This funnel was adopted shortly before the 1939 merger.
Nelson’s FOTW image, citing Fune To Hata and a flag dated 1916, gives unequal stripes. The photograph has a crease in the centre stripe, leaving uncertainty over whether it should be widened; the depiction makes the central white stripe equal to the red stripes and narrower than the outer white areas. Watt later confirms equal widths. Rosanoski’s earlier discussion preserves both the five-band claim and his expectation of seven from the funnel design.
The Japan-China Steamship Co. was formed in March 1907 by four companies including NYK and OSK and became a steamship owner in 1908. It merged into Toa Kaiun on 5 August 1939, although later Merchant Ships editions still use Nissin or Nisshin. Toa was dissolved by the Allies in 1946.
Japan, Tokyo.
Keep the explicit scope label independent; no alias or company identity is inferred.