Section 1. Our Company’s Founding

Ujigawa Electric Power was established in 1906 for the purpose of providing power throughout the Kyoto–Osaka–Kobe region by means of a large-scale hydroelectric power facility at Lake Biwa. Its first president had been Tokugoro Nakahashi, who was now the president of O.S.K. Lines and a leading figure in the Kansai business world. Its second and subsequent presidents had also been from O.S.K. Lines, so the connections between the two companies ran deep. Ujigawa Electric Power’s first headquarters had been a rented private estate on Dojimahama-dori Street, and the location of their permanent headquarters changed frequently, remaining undecided for a period of time.

Nippon Electric Power, meanwhile, was founded in 1919 to resolve power shortages in the Kyoto–Osaka–Kobe region following World War I. The company’s purpose was to generate power from the waters of the Mashita River and Maze River portions of the Hida River and the Miya River portion of the Jinzu River in Gifu Prefecture, and the Wada River stretch of the Joganji River in Toyama Prefecture. This power would then be provided to the Kyoto–Osaka–Kobe region via Ujigawa Electric Power. It was Nakahashi who had obtained application priority for the Hida River hydroelectric power station, and from that point on, O.S.K. Lines and Ujigawa Electric Power were both involved in the establishment of Nippon Electric Power. Nippon Electric Power initially located its headquarters in Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka before moving it to Imabashi, Higashi-ku and Koraibashi, Higashi-ku. However, the company was unable to secure sufficient space and was eager for a new office.

Both companies were increasingly intent upon constructing new headquarters, so the proposal offered by O.S.K. Lines was favorably received.