The Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (日本郵船), or NYK Line, is one of the largest shipping companies in the world.
The company traces its history back to the Tsukumo Shokai Shipping company founded by the Tosa clan in 1870. In 1875, as Mitsubishi Shokai, it inaugurated Japan's first passenger liner service, with a route from Yokohama to Shanghai. The company merged with Kyodo Unyu Kaisha (founded 1882) in 1885, and adopted its present name.
The merged company had a fleet of 58 steamships and expanded its operations rapidly, first to other ports of the East and then worldwide, with liner service to London inaugurated in 1899.
World War II resulted in the destruction of much of the fleet, but by the mid-1950s NYK ships were again seen around the world.
As the demand for passenger ships dwindled in the 1960s, NYK expanded its cargo operation, running Japan's first container ship on a route to California in 1968 and soon establishing container ship routes to many other ports. NYK became a partner in Nippon Cargo Airlines in 1978, and in 1985, added United States container train service in cooperation with Southern Pacific.
NYK revived its passenger ship business in 1989 with cruise ships operated by its newly-formed subsidiary Crystal Cruises.
