A gift marks the beginning of what is to become a close relationship with Japan: A Prussian envoy hands over a Krupp-made rolling machine as a gift to the Land of the Rising Sun. This first step paves the way for the Prussian-Japanese trade agreement concluded in 1861.

Around 1,800 Krupp units of rail track weighing some 507 metric tons are delivered to Japan.

The railway system is nationalized and the rail network undergoes further expansion. Henschel & Sohn (later Thyssen Henschel) delivers 120 locomotives and 1,200 metric tons of rail track to Japan between 1903 and 1937.

Koppers (later Krupp Koppers) builds 60 new coal kilns for Mike Mitsui Mining Co. These facilities are put into operation in 1912.

Japan's retired Emperor Akihito visits August Thyssen-Hütte AG in Duisburg. Thyssen and Krupp recognize Japan's industrial potential and intensify their relations with Japanese steel producers and politicians. Moreover, the "Bochumer Verein" foundry (later Krupp) manufactures four church bells and donates them to the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima.

Albrecht Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach pays a five-week visit to Japan. 1961 sees Alfred Krupp donate 500,000 marks (333.3 million yen) to the Sophia University, on the premises of which the Krupp Hall is built. He is awarded an honorary doctorate two years later.

Uhde carries out numerous orders in Japan between 1962 and 1974, including the construction of sulfur recovery (acetaldehyde) plants for the Idemitsu Kosan Aichi Refinery and Nippon Mining Co. Ltd.

The monorail between Tokyo and Haneda Airport is built by Hitachi Ltd. under licenses held by Krupp company Alweg GmbH.

Krupp founds Nippon Roballo Co. Ltd. (now thyssenkrupp rothe erde), which later develops into Japan's leading manufacturer of slewing bearings.

Nippon Steel Corp. and August-Thyssen-Hütte AG agree on an extensive exchange of information in the technical, economic and sociopolitical fields. In addition, Krupp supplies a bucket wheel excavator to Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Mining Cement Co. for landfill disposal in Tokyo Bay and other coastal areas.

A group of Japanese dealers together with employees of Mitsubishi Corporation and Krupp Japan visit the Krupp works to inspect our hydraulic hammers.

Thyssen and Krupp take part in the German Industry Exhibition in Japan, underlining the successful partnership between German and Japanese companies.

The thyssenkrupp Technology Days are held at Waseda University and help establish a long-term cooperation between the two companies. In the same year, JFE Steel Corp. and thyssenkrupp Steel AG set up a joint venture under the name JEVISE Corporation to expand the early vendor involvement (EVI) activities of the two steel manufacturers in the development of new automobiles.

thyssenkrupp Elevator Japan is founded in 2008 and officially renamed thyssenkrupp Access. thyssenkrupp Access specializes in stairlifts and residential solutions – a market dynamically nurtured by demographic change.

Nippon Roball Co. Ltd. (now thyssenkrupp rothe erde) establishes a production facility in Kitakyushu. In the same year, thyssenkrupp participates in the German-Japanese events to celebrate the close and amicable 150-year ties between the two countries.

To stay abreast of the continuing growth in Japan, our CASA office in Tokyo is relocated to Akasaka Garden City, where we are still based today.

thyssenkrupp holds an exhibition at the Nissan Technical Center, showcasing automotive solutions based on the InCarPlus toolbox. In the same year, we are awarded the JSAE and Mazda Awards as leading suppliers and partners.

The renovation of a coking plant for JFE Steel in Chiba is completed. The completion and opening of the plant are marked with a ceremony. The same year sees a technical exhibition held by thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology at Honda, Mazda and Nissan.

Our growth continues, with around 300 employees at five locations in Japan. Relocation to Yokohama and setting up an office for the Business Unit Springs and Stabilizers.