The early origins of our company arose from the time when Yutaka Kubota and his Japanese colleagues were engaged in the development of power stations on the Korean peninsular over several years until 1945. They were working on the Supung Hydropower station on the Yalu River, which flows along the border of North Korea and China. The Supung hydropower station is famous for its size and contribution it made to economic development in the region. These Japanese engineers also worked on other power developments, railways, and water conveyance projects.
However, when World War II ended in 1945, Japan lost its overseas investments in infrastructure and the Japanese engineers were repatriated to a homeland that was in as state of devastation. During this period of confusion after WWII, Yutaka Kubota founded Shinko Power Co.,Ltd., the original name of Nippon Koei, in June 1946. The aim was to utilize the skills and know-how of the repatriated engineers he had formerly worked with to aid in the reconstruction of Japan.
During these early years of the company, Mr. Kubota, carefully monitored the progress in large-scale power development in Japan and other countries that had been damaged during WW II.
Many engineers entered Nippon Koei in these times simply to earn a livelihood. However, they soon came under the influence of Mr. Kubota’s way of thinking. The spirit engendered was an enthusiasm to contribute not only to Japan, but to the global society through technology. Mr. Kubota’s conviction was that that sincerity was the key to achieving goals. He would often say, "Tackle your problems with sincerity and the road ahead shall be clear".
Our company has now been operating for over half a century. Our fields of expertise and the scale of projects we take on have both expanded. However, one thing that has not changed is that the spirit instilled in the company by its founder continues to live on.

Founder of NIPPON KOEI CO., LTD, Yutaka Kubota
Yutaka Kubota was born in 1890 in Kumamoto, Japan and studied engineering at the Tokyo Imperial University. After graduating, he became a director of Japan Nitrogenous Fertilizer Company Ltd. and later was appointed as the president of Korea Power Co., Ltd. Mr. Kubota was involved in the development of electric power on the Korean Peninsula through the construction of large-scale hydroelectric power Projects. After World War II, he drew upon his experience with the Korean power industry to establish Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. Mr. Kubota contributed to many projects around the world, including construction of numerous hydroelectric power plant in southeast Asia and was a member of the United Nations’ Mekong River Development Commission. He contributed greatly to the economic development of many countries, continuing to lead projects in different parts of the world up until the age of 90. In 1985 he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, a rare honor for a private citizen. He died in 1986 at the age of 96.