Corporate History

• History of Yasuda Logistics Corporation
• Historical Highlights

History of Yasuda Logistics Corporation

1919 to 1944
Launch and development of a logistics business

Yasuda Logistics Corporation’s history began in 1919 with the founding of Koa Kigyo Co., Ltd.
Originally established as Koa Kigyo Co., Ltd., the company acquired an area of reclaimed land in Yokohama’s Moriya-cho district. Later, this district attracted attention as a shipping port after many port-related facilities in the Yokohama area were destroyed by a major earthquake that struck the Kanto region in 1923. Taking the initiative, the company opened a warehouse in Moriya-cho in 1924 (currently the Moriya-cho Logistics Center). Aiming to expand its operations, the company subsequently opened the Tokyo Logistics Center in the Shibaura district of Tokyo in 1932 (currently the Shibaura Logistics Center). Based primarily in both Yokohama and Shibaura, the logistics business prospered in the years that followed. In 1942, the company was renamed The Yasuda Warehouse Co., Ltd. (the predecessor of Yasuda Logistics Corporation.)

1945 to 1965
Investing to modernize and make a new start

In the aftermath of World War II, US occupying forces completely confiscated key infrastructure in Japan, particularly ports and warehouses, and the company’s logistics facilities were no exception. In addition, some of its warehouses had been burned down during air raids, and it also faced fierce competition in the logistics industry. Despite such difficult circumstances, Yasuda Logistics steadily invested in rebuilding its business in preparation for the end of the occupation. By the time all of its property was returned in 1955, the company had rebuilt the warehouses that had been destroyed and added new facilities at its Moriya-cho and Shibaura sites, thereby modernizing its operations.

1966 to 1995
Strategic focus on Tokyo Metropolitan Area and development as an integrated logistics enterprise

From 1966, Japan’s logistics industry responded to the growing need to upgrade and expand logistics infrastructure to accommodate mass production and mass consumption as the economy expanded and globalized. Anticipating rapid growth in shipping demand especially from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Yasuda Logistics began expanding its network of logistics facilities, starting with its Heiwajima Logistics Center in Tokyo. The company opened the Tokyo Port Logistics Center (currently the International Forwarding Center) to expand its marine shipping and cargo operations, and established Maruyasu Transportation Co., Ltd. (currently Yasuda Transportation Co., Ltd.) to bolster its shipping services. Through these and other initiatives, Yasuda Logistics laid a solid foundation as an integrated logistics enterprise.

1996 to 2018
Expansion from the Tokyo Metropolitan area to Kansai, Kyushu, and abroad

Besides operating in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, home to the country’s largest concentration of consumers, Yasuda Logistics expanded into Japan’s Kansai and Kyushu regions to help its customers streamline their logistics operations. To address issues facing its customers, the company broadened its services beyond its long-established businesses of warehousing and shipping to include the customization of precision equipment, development and design of packaging materials, and solutions for streamlining administrative processes. Moreover, the company established operations in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Indonesia, and leveraged the know-how it has refined in Japan to offer the high-quality services that Japan has become synonymous for.

2019 to the present
Looking towards the next century

In 2019, Yasuda Logistics celebrated its 100th anniversary. It marked the occasion by creating a new corporate slogan--Logistics, Progress, Borderless--to express its commitment to continue expanding beyond national borders and the limits of conventional logistics to surpass stakeholders’ expectations and continue to be chosen by customers for another 100 years. Staying true to this vision, Yasuda Logistics newly entered markets in India and Singapore, and diversified its services to include medical device repairs, IT device lifecycle management, and business process outsourcing services. It is accelerating the digital transformation of its logistics operations through various initiatives, including the adoption of autonomous forklifts.

Historical Highlights

December 20, 1919	Established as Koa Kigyo Co., Ltd. with capital of 4 million yen. Set up the Head Office within the Yasuda Hozen Company (unlimited partnership).
February 1924	Launched warehousing business in Yokohama (currently Moriya-cho Logistics Center).
March 1932	Built a warehouse and opened Tokyo Logistics Center in Shiba-ku, Tokyo (currently Shibaura Logistics Center).
July 1934	Renamed the Company as Rinko Logistics Corporation.
July 1942	Renamed the company’s name as Yasuda Logistics Corporation.
April 1944	Offered the warehousing facilities to Nijon Soko Tosei Corporation (a government-controlled company).
March 1949	Renamed the company’s name as Taiyo Soko Corporation.
June 1962	Established the currently named Yasuda Works Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
March 1968	Inaugurated the Yasuda Logistics Main Building where the head office was relocated in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
July 1970	Established Hokkai Yasuda Logistics Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
September	Opened Heiwajima Logistics Center.
May 1971	Opened Hachioji and Atsugi Logistics Centers.
November	Opened Honmoku Logistics Center.
July 1972	Opened Tokyo Port Logistics Center.
November	Established the currently named Yasuda Transportation Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
August 1973	Opened Itabashi Logistics Center.
September 1984	Opened Kita Osaka Logistics Center.
March 1985	Established The Yasuda Building Co., Ltd. (subsequently absorbed into Yasuda Logistics).
September 1987	Opened Oi Logistics Center.
March 1990	Opened Daikoku Logistics Center.
June	Established Yasuda Estate Service Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
December	Opened Higashi-Ogishima Logistics Center.
July 1991	Relocated the head office to the 8th Yasuda Building in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
September 1995	Opened Oi Futo Logistics Center.
February 1996	Opened Shanghai Representative Office in China.
August	Opened Y-CC Daikoku Logistics Center.
January 1997	Opened the International Forwarding Center by integrating Tokyo Port Logistics Center and Yokohama Port Logistics Center.
June 1999	Listed in the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
August 2000	Established Yasuda Logistics (Shanghai) Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in China.
September	Opened System Distribution Center.
February 2001	Opened Kashiwa Logistics Center.
January 2002	Obtained ISO9001 certification, the international quality management standard.
December	Opened Beijing Representative Office in China.
April 2003	Made Fuyo Air Cargo Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
March 2005	Listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Obtained ISO14001 certification, the international environmental management standard.
September	Opened Hong Kong Representative Office in Hong Kong.
January 2007	Obtained ISO27001 certification, the international information security management standard.
January	Established Yasuda Chuo International Forwarding (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in China.
February	Opened Hanoi Representative Office in Vietnam.
January 2008	Made Japan Business Logistics Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
April	Opened Osaka Logistics Centers.
December	Opened Shin-Yamashita Logistics Center.
August 2009	Established YASUDA LOGISTICS (VIETNAM) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Vietnam.
June 2011	Opened Yasuda Chuo International Forwarding (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Qingpu Branch in China.
October 2012	Opened Jakarta Representative Office in Indonesia.
October 2013	Established Yasuda Medical Logistics Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
January 2014	Opened Ibaraki Logistics Center. Set up Medical Logistics Unit.
July	Set up IT Kitting Unit.
October	Made Takagi Kogyo Transport Co., Ltd (currently Y's Plus One Co., Ltd) becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Yasuda Transportation Co., Ltd.
July 2015	Merged with Yasuda Building Co., Ltd.
September	Yasuda Logistics (Shanghai) Corporation started operation.
January 2016	Obtained ISO13485 certification, the international quality management standard for medical devices.
February	Opened Metropolitan Archives and Information Management Center.
April 2016	Integrated Kita Osaka Logistics Center Ibaraki Logistics Center.
July 2017	Opened Kyushu Logistics Center.
October	Y's Plus One Co., Ltd (currently a consolidated subsidiary) becomes a wholly owned subsidiary.
December	Established PT. YASUDA LOGISTICS INDONESIA (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Indonesia.
November 2019	Made Onishi Logistics Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) a wholly owned subsidiary.
January 2020	Made Onishi Crane and Transport Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) a wholly owned subsidiary.
June	Opened Tokyo Medical Logistics Center.
December	Head office relocated to Tamachi Station Tower N in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
January 2021	Opened Tokyo Medical Logistics Center 2.
November	Made Nanshinkamotsu Transport Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) a wholly owned subsidiary. Made Powered L Com Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated Sub-subsidiary), Jonan Transport Co., Ltd. , and Lupina Car Service Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated Sub-subsidiary) wholly owned Sub-subsidiaries.
April 2022	Listed in the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
February 2023	Established PT. JAYA YASUDA INDONESIA (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Indonesia.
March	Made Eisai Distribution Co., Ltd. (currently Yasuda Logi Pharma Co., Ltd. and a consolidated subsidiary) a wholly owned subsidiary.
April	Made OSO Co., Ltd. (currently YSO Logi Co., Ltd. and a consolidated subsidiary) a wholly owned subsidiary.
June	Established YASUDA LOGISTICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Singapore.
July	Established YASUDA LOGISTICS INDIA PVT. LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in India.
March 2024	Made Goto Human-ecology Design Firm co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary. Made Orient Service Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated Sub-subsidiary) wholly owned Sub-subsidiary.
April	Opend Kazo Logistics Center.