Propelling
Issue 1

A warm ray of light
The blade’s curve appears in sight
Divine beauty shines

Nakashima People Vol.1
Motoyoshi Nakashima

President, Nakashima Propeller

Propelling,

In 1926, Zenichi Nakashima, Motoyoshi’sin the lives of others, including customers

a newsletter from

grandfather, started a foundry. Twoand employees. For instance, at Nakashima,

Okayama, Japan,years later, he started making propellers

we foster a culture where employees canspotlights the hidden

for fishing vessels. After World War II,

openly express themselves, constantly takeallure of propellers andMotoyoshi’s father, Tamotsu and hisup new challenges and even make mistakes.

aims to steer the world’sbrothers began manufacturing large

ships, and their world,propellers and expanded the company’s

decisions and carrying them out, whether you

one step into the future

market share. Motoyoshi and his team haveare making a step forward or a step back.

You also have to be brave in making

made aggressive investments—building
new factories and setting up overseas

Q. What is the DNA of Nakashima

subsidiaries—turning Nakashima Propeller

Propeller?

into a true global firm. We asked Motoyoshi

A. My grandfather, a mould craftsman,what makes Nakashima unique.

taught us the importance of made-by-handskills. My father loved innovation and was

Q. As a top company executive, what arealways eager to introduce cutting-edge

your priorities?

technologies. And both of them shared theA. Business is all about people. I thus

spirit of never settling for the status quo.

believe it’s important to be inspired by

Our company inherited all of these traits.

people around you and to make a differenceNakashima makes heavy investments inPropelling Issue 1“Whether you aremaking a rocket or apropeller, you need to
be able to accuratelyreflect its design inthe manufacturing
process to attain its fullpotential.”

Motoyoshi Nakashima

computers that support our in-house designs. Our technology

propulsion performance, to support ships throughout theiris among the best in the industry.

entire life cycle. We are aiming to become an irreplaceable

But you cannot fly a rocket to the moon by just creatinga good blueprint. Whether you are making a rocket or apropeller, to attain its full potential you must accurately

partner for ship owners and other clients—and to have an
outstanding presence in the world.
The younger generation in our company is taking the leadreflect its design in the manufacturing process. Nakashima

in implementing reforms to achieve these goals, and I haveachieves this by integrating two elements that set it apart:

great confidence in them.

processing skills powered by the most advanced machines,
and state-of-the-art techniques used by our craftsmen.
Q. Why do you stick to a build-to-order style for
producing moulds?
A. The number of companies that can take single-item orders
for a wide range of products is dwindling. Many propeller
makers have a standardised moulding process, to streamline
their production. However, every ship has different cargo
and equipment. Every sea route has its own climate. Every

Maxim of
Nakashima Propeller"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of those thatcame before, but seek what they sought"
Matsuo Bashopoet and haikuist, 1644-1694

port has a different water depth. In the future, the ability to

These words were inscribed on the opening page of thedesign and manufacture the best propeller for each ship willbook detailing the history of the company by the late

be even more crucial, considering that ships’ environmental

Tamotsu Nakashima, the second-generation president.

load, in addition to their speed and energy efficiency, isexpected to become more important.

A central element of Nakashima Propeller’s growthhas been the spirit of not simply replicating what wasmade by those before, but utilising the ideals andQ. What is the future of Nakashima as it approaches

intentions at their core to create products that surpass

its 100th anniversary?

them. This is also intrinsically linked to Nakashima

A. Today, Nakashima is not just manufacturing propellers.

Propeller’s slogan, “We go beyond.”

We are evolving into a specialist company that optimises

INTROSPECTION — JAPANESE INNOVATION

served as a means to store and control water. Apart fromThe Wisdom of Edohigh food productivity, the system provided Japan withbiodiversity, rich spring and ground water, and the timelesslandscapes of city and countryside.

Utagawa Hiroshige’s wonderful ukiyo-e wood block prints“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” do more than show

This is development as it should be. It is sustainable

Tokyo—Edo—as one of the biggest cities in the world. Theyand enriching, with society’s current needs amply met,show a city and society with a relationship with nature

but not at the cost of future generations. Of course, Japan

which we now recognise as being a key to life—a balanced

has not always followed such an impressive model ofrelationship of interdependence and co-existence rather

innovation and development—the modern, post Meiji,than simple use and exploitation.

period has seen Japan exploit and exhaust its wonderfulnatural resources, leading to pollution, depletion andOur eye is naturally drawn to the vibrant waterfront ofcountr y wide eyesores.

Utagawa’s Edo, the entertainment and business areas of
the huge city. We see a city able to feed and water a huge

What price modernity? As Tokyo 2020 rediscovers Tokyo’s

population, with the detail of human life which make thesewaterfront, can Japan rediscover the spirit and practice

images so beguiling. But behind the image is, in fact, aof Edo era innovation—working within nature, meetingcomplicated ecosystem which used the country’s natural

our human needs alongside the needs of nature and theresources without destroying them.

environment. It surely is possible—and perhaps we willfind a contemporary Utagawa to document it— wonderful

Japan is naturally a country with many fast-flowing

bequests indeed.

streams according to Yutaro Senga, an expert in water
environment studies. But the foundation for the Edo ofUtagawa was to moisten every piece of land by “creatingReference: Senga, Y. (1995) Revive Waterfronts,

slow currents.” Thus the people of Japan developed a culture

Satoyama, and the Countryside (Iwanami Shoten)

to conserve trees in the mountains and create irrigation

The original article was in Japanesechannels, as well as ponds and paddy fields, all of which

Written by Yaoyorozu-ING

NAKASHIMA PROPELLER
We Go Beyond
Headquartered in Japan’s Setouchi region, the centre of thecountry’s shipbuilding industry, Nakashima Propeller is amanufacturer of marine propulsion equipment boasting a leading
share in marine propellers.
Having started as a foundry for fishing boat propellers, thecompany has continued to pursue innovation in the capabilityof propellers to deliver security, safety and comfort. It will becelebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.
A ship’s optimal state is found when it is viewed from thepropeller, the centre of propulsive functions. With this freshperspective, Nakashima Propeller seeks to offer a full range of■ OUR SERVICES
Nakashima Propeller designs and manufactures marine propellers(FPP and CPP), thrusters, energy-saving devices for the stern andCFRP propellers.
We also offer a full range of after-sales service, including repairof damaged propellers, edge modification, fuel-saving polishing,support of propulsion equipment for ships in operation andoptimisation of propulsion performance for fuel efficiency.
*We provide propellers for ULCS, VLCC, VLOC, VLGC, LNG/LPG-carriers, PCC, cruise
ships, working boats, coastal vessels, research vessels and coast guard vessels*Our services satisfy requirements for all major classification certificates(including ice-class)services catering to each ship’s entire life
cycle while achieving fuel efficiency toreduce the burden on the environment.
Nakashima Propeller works to contribute to
the world, beyond the realm of its industry.

■ OUR STRENGTHSJAPANESE QUALITY
Nakashima Propeller offers refined
in-house capabilities in design andmanufacturing. Using a high-performancecomputer with a 3000 core large-scale
processor, Nakashima’s craftsmen create
a blueprint based on data accumulated
from a world-class production historyof 1 million propellers. Moreover, with
its unique manufacturing skills that
integrate cutting-edge technology andexperienced craftsmanship, Nakashima isfully equipped to delicately reflect designin manufacturing and deliver reliable
Japanese-quality products.

CUSTOMISED PRODUCTION
The propeller is at the centre of optimising
propulsion performance—and a hundred
different vessels will have a hundred different propellers. Rather“World-recognised Japanese quality cannot be described solely

than pursuing efficiency as a manufacturer, Nakashima takes pridein terms of mechanical precision or reproducibility. Lacquerware

in its commitment to build-to-order production, designing andused at the dinner table, Japanese knives that are indispensable

manufacturing optimal propellers for each unique ship under an

to create Japanese delicacies—only with the deep commitment

integrated production system.

and thorough experience of the people who make them can

CUTTING-EDGE USE OF SMART TECHNOLOGY
Nakashima’s smart technology is able to define the shape ofthe high-efficiency propeller’s complex three-dimensional,
curved surface. By increasing the surface area of machining withthe full potential of such products be unleashed. Our propellers
embody the same spirit of Japanese quality.”—H. Kubo, general manager, innovation section, Nakashima Propeller

adjustments such as modification of the trailing edge, a process■ EVENTS

requiring special craftsmanship is simplified and speedy production

NOR-SHIPPING - Lillestrom, Norway 2-5 June 2015

without dispersion is achieved.

MARINTEC CHINA - Shanghai, China 1-4 December 2015

SERVICE ANY TIME, ANY PLACE
Nakashima Propeller promptly responds to propeller damage bysending repair engineers from its worldwide network to your site.
Nakashima takes into account various conditions such as the ship’s

688-1, Joto-Kitagata, Higashi-ku,

fuel efficiency, course and degradation due to ageing to propose

Okayama, 709-0625, JAPANsolutions such as edge modification, fuel-saving polishing and+81 86 279 5111

retrofit, providing detailed support throughout the ship’s entire

npcwebmaster@nakashima.co.jp

life cycle.

Japan・Singapore・Vietnam・Philippines
Korea・Taiwan・China ・U.S.A.・Brazil・Turkey・U.K.・Namibia・UAE

Propelling Issue 1 May 12th 2015
Produced by Yaoyorozu-ING Company Co., Ltd.
Photo by Takumi Ota [P1, 2, 4]
Copyright 2015 NAKASHIMA PROPELLER Co.Ltd. All Rights Reserved.