20 Leading Japanese Steel Companies: The Iron Backbone of Japan’s Industry

Japan’s steel industry has supported the industrial development of modern Japan and continues to be the foundation of all industries, including automobiles, construction, and energy. This article highlights 20 major companies representing Japan’s steel industry, thoroughly explaining each company’s business activities, strengths, achievements, and future prospects.

Nippon Steel Corporation is one of the world’s leading steel manufacturers in terms of crude steel production. As a blast furnace steelmaker, it manufactures a wide range of steel products. It was established in 2012 through the merger of Nippon Steel Corporation and Sumitomo Metal Industries. It provides steel products to a wide range of industries, including automobiles, construction, energy, shipbuilding, and railways. Its headquarters is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

Nippon Steel’s strengths lie in its world-class technological capabilities and its integrated steelworks that produce steel from iron ore in blast furnaces, enabling a stable supply of high-quality steel products. It manufactures an extremely wide range of steel products, including hot-rolled steel sheets, plates, steel pipes, wire rods, bars, and special steel, and is particularly strong in the development of high-strength steel sheets, automotive steel sheets, and extra-thick steel plates. It is also actively expanding globally, with production bases in Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.

Its achievements and examples include the development of high-strength steel used in the Tokyo Skytree, ultra-high-tensile steel sheets contributing to the lightweighting of automobiles, and the manufacturing of extra-thick steel plates used in the world’s largest tankers. It is also actively developing joint ventures and technology partnerships with overseas steel manufacturers to strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.

JFE Steel Corporation is the second largest steel manufacturer in Japan after Nippon Steel. As a blast furnace steelmaker, it manufactures a wide range of steel products. It was established in 2003 through the merger of Kawasaki Steel Corporation and NKK Corporation. It provides steel products to a wide range of industries, including automobiles, construction, energy, shipbuilding, and infrastructure. It is a subsidiary of JFE Holdings. Its headquarters is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

JFE Steel’s strengths are its advanced technological capabilities in blast furnace operation, energy-saving technology, and process technology, as well as its ability to develop diverse products tailored to customer needs. It manufactures a wide range of steel products, including hot-rolled steel sheets, plates, steel pipes, wire rods, and construction materials, and has integrated steelworks that produce steel from iron ore in blast furnaces, ensuring a stable supply of high-quality steel products. It is particularly strong in high-tensile steel sheets contributing to automobile lightweighting, high-performance building materials, and high corrosion-resistant steel pipes used in the energy sector.

Its achievements and examples include the development of high-tensile steel sheets contributing to automobile lightweighting, the supply of thick plates used in large structures such as skyscrapers and bridges, and the manufacturing of high corrosion-resistant steel pipes used in subsea pipelines. It is also actively expanding overseas, with production bases mainly in Asia.

Kobe Steel, Ltd. is a comprehensive engineering company that develops a wide range of businesses, including steel, welding, machinery, engineering, and aluminum and copper. Founded in 1905, it develops welding materials, industrial machinery, and engineering businesses in addition to the manufacturing of steel products. Its headquarters is located in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Kobe Steel’s strength is its diversified business development in addition to the steel business, including welding, machinery, engineering, and aluminum and copper. It provides a wide range of products and services, including wire rods, bars, special steel, aluminum, titanium, welding materials, industrial machinery, and engineering plants, and is particularly strong in special steel, welding technology, and aluminum and copper processing technology.

Its achievements and examples include providing products and services to various fields such as automobiles, construction, aerospace, energy, and infrastructure. For example, it has numerous achievements, such as titanium products used in aircraft engines, special steel used in automobile parts, and welding materials used in bridge construction.

Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is an electric furnace steelmaker that manufactures steel products using scrap iron as raw material. Founded in 1934, it melts scrap iron in electric furnaces to manufacture steel products. Its headquarters is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. As a specialized electric furnace manufacturer, it ranks among the top domestic producers of crude steel.

Tokyo Steel’s strengths are its contribution to recycling as an electric furnace manufacturer, its cost competitiveness through thorough cost management, and its ability to meet short delivery times. It manufactures sections, steel sheets, and bars, and its products are used in construction and civil engineering. It has a high share, particularly in structural steel for buildings.

Its achievements and examples include the adoption of its products in various buildings such as high-rise buildings, commercial facilities, and logistics warehouses. It also supplied steel materials for the reconstruction projects after the Great East Japan Earthquake, contributing to the restoration of social infrastructure.

Godo Steel, Ltd. is an electric furnace steelmaker that manufactures steel products using scrap iron as raw material. Founded in 1937, it melts scrap iron in electric furnaces to manufacture steel products. Its headquarters is located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture.

Godo Steel’s strengths are its contribution to recycling as an electric furnace manufacturer and its locally based business development. It manufactures sections, bars, and deformed bars, and its products are used in construction and civil engineering. It contributes to the regional economy, particularly through its business development centered on the western Japan region.

Its achievements and examples include supplying steel materials for regional infrastructure development projects and construction projects. It also actively participates in recovery support activities during disasters, contributing to local communities.

Daido Steel Co., Ltd. is a special steel manufacturer that manufactures high-performance steel products. Founded in 1916, it manufactures special steel and special steel products. Its headquarters is located in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. It provides special steel to a wide range of fields, including automobiles, industrial machinery, aerospace, and energy.

Daido Steel’s strengths are its advanced special steel manufacturing technology cultivated over many years, particularly in melting and refining, heat treatment, and processing technology. It provides optimal special steel for high-performance components used in various fields, such as automobile parts (engines, transmissions, drive train parts), industrial machinery parts (bearings, gears, molds), aerospace equipment parts, and energy-related equipment parts. It is particularly strong in the development of special steel with characteristics such as high strength, high corrosion resistance, and high heat resistance.

Its achievements and examples include numerous achievements such as lightweight components contributing to improved fuel efficiency in automobiles, high-strength components contributing to improved safety in aircraft, and high heat-resistant components contributing to improved efficiency in power plants. It is also actively expanding overseas, with production bases in Asia and North America.

Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd. is a special steel manufacturer that manufactures high-performance steel products. Founded in 1933, it manufactures special steel and special steel products. Its headquarters is located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. It provides special steel to a wide range of fields, including automobiles, industrial machinery, construction machinery, and energy.

Sanyo Special Steel’s strengths are its special steel manufacturing technology cultivated over many years, particularly in hot rolling, cold rolling, and heat treatment. It provides optimal special steel for high-performance components used in various fields, such as automobile parts (bearings, gears, springs), industrial machinery parts (bearings, shafts, molds), construction machinery parts, and energy-related equipment parts. It is particularly strong in the development of special steel with characteristics such as high strength, high fatigue strength, and high wear resistance.

Its achievements and examples include numerous achievements such as high-strength components contributing to improved safety in automobiles, high wear-resistant components contributing to improved durability in construction machinery, and high fatigue strength components contributing to improved reliability in wind power generation equipment.

Proterial, Ltd. (formerly Hitachi Metals, Ltd.) is a materials manufacturer that manufactures special steel, magnetic materials, and electric wires. Established in 1956, it manufactures special steel, magnetic materials, and electric wires. It was a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., but has now changed its name to Proterial. Its headquarters is located in Minato-ku, Tokyo. It provides high-performance materials to a wide range of fields, including automobiles, industrial machinery, electronic equipment, and aerospace.

Proterial’s strengths are its advanced materials technology cultivated over many years, particularly in the manufacturing of special steel and magnetic materials. It provides special steel, magnetic materials, and electric wires, and its products are used in high-performance components in various fields, such as automobile parts, industrial machinery parts, electronic equipment parts, and aerospace equipment parts. It is particularly strong in the development of high-performance magnetic materials, high-strength special steel, and high-performance electric wires.

Its achievements and examples include numerous achievements such as high-performance magnetic materials used in motors for hybrid and electric vehicles, high-strength special steel used in aircraft engines, and high-performance electric wires used in smartphones and personal computers.

Aichi Steel Corporation is a special steel manufacturer that produces high-performance steel products. Founded in 1940, it manufactures special steel and special steel products. It is affiliated with Toyota Motor Corporation. Its headquarters is located in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture. It mainly provides special steel for the automotive industry.

Aichi Steel’s strengths are its technology specialized in special steel for automobiles and its integrated production system from steel to forged products. It manufactures automobile parts (engines, transmissions, drive train parts) and industrial machinery parts, and its products are used especially in critical safety parts such as automobile engines, transmissions, and undercarriage components. As a member of the Toyota Group, it greatly contributes to the development of the automotive industry.

Its achievements and examples include the stable supply of high-quality special steel products to automobile manufacturers, including Toyota Motor Corporation. It is particularly focused on developing special steel that contributes to the lightweighting and high strengthening of automobiles.

Osaka Steel Co., Ltd. is an electric furnace steelmaker that manufactures steel products using scrap iron as raw material. Founded in 1939, it melts scrap iron in electric furnaces to manufacture steel products. It is part of the Nippon Steel Group. Its headquarters is located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. It operates mainly in the western Japan region.

Osaka Steel’s strengths are its contribution to recycling as an electric furnace manufacturer, its locally based business development, and its stable management base as a member of the Nippon Steel Group. It manufactures sections, bars, and deformed bars, and its products are used in construction and civil engineering. It particularly contributes to infrastructure development and construction projects in the western Japan region.

Its achievements and examples include supplying steel materials for major infrastructure projects in western Japan, such as Kansai International Airport and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It also actively participates in recovery support activities during disasters, contributing to local communities.

Nakayama Steel Works, Ltd. is an electric furnace steelmaker that manufactures steel products using scrap iron as raw material. Founded in 1923, it melts scrap iron in electric furnaces to manufacture steel products. Its headquarters is located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. It mainly manufactures thick plates and sections, and has high technological capabilities and a high share, particularly in the thick plate field.

Nakayama Steel Works’ strengths are its contribution to recycling as an electric furnace manufacturer, its technology specialized in thick plates, and its flexible production system tailored to customer needs. It manufactures thick plates and sections, and its products are used in various fields such as construction, shipbuilding, industrial machinery, bridges, and marine structures. It is particularly strong in the development of high-strength thick plates and thick plates with excellent weldability.

Its achievements and examples include supplying thick plates for numerous projects such as large buildings, bridges, shipbuilding, and marine structures. In recent years, the demand for thick plates used in renewable energy-related equipment has also been increasing.

Nippon Steel Stainless Steel Corporation is a stainless steel manufacturer that manufactures high-performance stainless steel products. It was established in 2019 through the merger of Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel and Nisshin Steel’s stainless steel business. It is part of the Nippon Steel Group. Its headquarters is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. It manufactures stainless steel sheets, stainless steel pipes, and special stainless steel, and provides products to a wide range of fields, including construction, home appliances, automobiles, industrial equipment, and medical care.

Nippon Steel Stainless Steel’s strengths are its advanced stainless steel manufacturing technology cultivated over many years, particularly in melting and refining, rolling, and surface treatment. It manufactures high-quality stainless steel sheets and stainless steel pipes, and is particularly strong in the development of stainless steel with characteristics such as high corrosion resistance, high strength, and high workability.

Its achievements and examples include the use of its products in various fields such as the exterior and interior of buildings, home appliances, automobile parts, industrial equipment, and medical devices. For example, it has numerous achievements, such as high weather-resistant stainless steel used in the exterior of the Tokyo Skytree and heat-resistant stainless steel used in automobile mufflers.

Nippon Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. is a steel pipe manufacturer that manufactures steel pipes for various applications. It was established in 2012 as Nippon Steel & Sumikin Pipe. It is part of the Nippon Steel Group. Its headquarters is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. It manufactures various steel pipes, including oil well pipes, line pipes, structural steel pipes, building steel pipes, and mechanical structural steel pipes, and provides products to a wide range of fields, including energy, construction, civil engineering, machinery, and automobiles.

Nippon Steel Pipe’s strengths are its advanced steel pipe manufacturing technology cultivated over many years, particularly in the manufacturing of seamless steel pipes and welded steel pipes. It manufactures high-quality steel pipes and is particularly strong in the development of steel pipes with characteristics such as high strength, high corrosion resistance, and high pressure resistance.

Its achievements and examples include numerous achievements such as oil well pipes used for oil and natural gas extraction, line pipes used for long-distance transportation, and structural steel pipes used for structures such as high-rise buildings and bridges.

Yodogawa Steel Works, Ltd. is a manufacturer that manufactures thin sheets and building materials. Founded in 1935, it manufactures thin sheets and building materials. Its headquarters is located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. It manufactures steel sheets, building materials (roofing materials, wall materials, steel floor materials, etc.), and exterior products, and provides products to a wide range of fields, including construction, civil engineering, housing, and agriculture.

Yodogawa Steel Works’ strengths are its product development capabilities specialized in the building material field and its diverse product lineup tailored to customer needs. It has a high share, particularly in the building material field such as roofing materials and wall materials.

Its achievements and examples include the adoption of its building materials in various buildings such as factories, warehouses, commercial facilities, and houses. Its products are also used in a wide range of fields, such as agricultural greenhouses and exterior products.

Topy Industries, Limited is a manufacturer that manufactures automotive wheels and steel sheets. Founded in 1921, it manufactures automotive wheels and steel sheets. Its headquarters is located in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo. It manufactures automotive wheels, construction machinery parts, and industrial machinery parts, and mainly supplies products to automobile manufacturers and construction machinery manufacturers.

Topy Industries’ strength is its high share in automotive wheels. It manufactures wheels compatible with a wide range of vehicle types, especially wheels for passenger cars and wheels for trucks and buses. It also manufactures steel sheets, construction machinery parts, and industrial machinery parts.

Its achievements and examples include supplying wheels to major Japanese automobile manufacturers such as Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. It also supplies parts to construction machinery manufacturers and industrial machinery manufacturers.

Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. manufactures machine tools, robots, special steel, etc. Founded in 1928, it manufactures machine tools, robots, special steel, and bearings. Its headquarters is located in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. It provides products and services to various fields of manufacturing.

Nachi-Fujikoshi’s strength is that it is a comprehensive manufacturer that consistently manufactures machine tools, robots, special steel, and bearings. This allows it to provide optimal solutions tailored to customer needs. It has high technological capabilities and a high share, particularly in fields such as cutting tools, industrial robots, special steel, and bearings.

Its achievements and examples include the use of its products and services in various manufacturing fields such as automobiles, aerospace, industrial machinery, and electronic equipment. For example, it has numerous achievements such as cutting tools used for processing automobile engine parts, industrial robots used for assembling automobiles, and special steel used for aircraft structural members.

Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd. is a stainless steel manufacturer that manufactures high-performance stainless steel products. Founded in 1935, it manufactures stainless steel and special steel. Its headquarters is located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It manufactures stainless steel sheets, stainless steel pipes, special stainless steel, and high-nickel alloys, and provides products to a wide range of fields, including construction, home appliances, automobiles, industrial equipment, chemical plants, energy (especially renewable energy), and the environment.

Nippon Yakin Kogyo’s strengths are its technology specialized in the development and manufacturing of high-performance stainless steel, especially stainless steel with characteristics such as high corrosion resistance, high heat resistance, high strength, and low thermal expansion, and its ability to handle small-lot production of a wide variety of products. In addition to the experience and technology cultivated over many years, it has built a system that can flexibly respond to diverse customer needs through the integrated manufacturing system at its Kawasaki Works. In particular, characteristics such as corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and low thermal expansion are especially needed in new energy fields such as renewable energy and hydrogen energy, and the company’s products play an important role in these fields.

Its achievements and examples include the use of its products in various fields such as chemical plants, flue gas desulfurization equipment, nuclear power plants, LNG tankers, fuel cells, solar power generation systems, and hydrogen stations. Recently, it has been actively expanding globally, including exhibiting at exhibitions in North America and receiving high evaluations from overseas.

Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd. is a special steel manufacturer that produces high-performance steel products. Founded in 1949, it manufactures special steel and special steel products. It is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Its headquarters is located in Sumida-ku, Tokyo. It manufactures springs, forgings, castings, and powder metallurgy products, and provides products to a wide range of fields, including automobiles, industrial machinery, construction machinery, aerospace, and energy.

Mitsubishi Steel’s strengths are its high technological capabilities specialized in springs and forgings and its diverse product development capabilities tailored to customer needs. It manufactures springs for various applications, especially automobile springs, industrial machinery springs, and construction machinery springs, and is strong in developing springs with characteristics such as high strength, high durability, and lightweighting. It also manufactures forgings, castings, and powder metallurgy products, building a system that can respond to diverse customer needs.

Its achievements and examples include the use of its products in various fields such as automobile suspensions, engine valve springs, industrial machinery drive train parts, construction machinery undercarriage parts, and aircraft landing gear parts.

Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd. is an electric furnace steelmaker that manufactures steel products using scrap iron as raw material. Founded in 1939, it melts scrap iron in electric furnaces to manufacture steel products. Its headquarters is located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. It manufactures sections, bars, and deformed bars, and provides products to a wide range of fields, including construction, civil engineering, and manufacturing.

Yamato Kogyo’s strengths are its contribution to recycling as an electric furnace manufacturer and its locally based business development. It contributes to the regional economy, particularly through its business development centered on the western Japan region. It has also built a flexible production system tailored to customer needs, enabling short delivery times.

Its achievements and examples include supplying steel materials for regional infrastructure development projects, construction projects, and factory construction in the manufacturing industry. It also actively participates in recovery support activities during disasters, contributing to local communities.

Ito Seitetusho Co., Ltd. is an electric furnace steelmaker that manufactures steel products using scrap iron as raw material. Founded in 1939, it melts scrap iron in electric furnaces to manufacture steel products. Its headquarters is located in Handa City, Aichi Prefecture. It manufactures sections and bars, and develops businesses closely related to the local economy, including construction, civil engineering, and manufacturing.

Ito Seitetusho’s strengths are its contribution to recycling as an electric furnace manufacturer and its locally based business development. It particularly contributes to the local economy centered on Aichi Prefecture. Although small in scale, it has built a flexible production system tailored to customer needs, providing locally based services.

Its achievements and examples include supplying steel materials for local construction projects and factory construction in the manufacturing industry. It also actively participates in local contribution activities, contributing to local communities.

The Japanese steel industry faces major challenges such as global demand fluctuations, intensifying competition with emerging countries, and decarbonization. To address these challenges and achieve sustainable growth, the following initiatives are essential:

• Responding to Decarbonization: Developing and introducing technologies such as hydrogen reduction steelmaking, CO2 capture and utilization (CCU/CCS), and high-efficiency electric furnace technology are urgent for achieving carbon neutrality. This is an important issue not only from the perspective of maintaining international competitiveness but also from the perspective of contributing to the global environment.
• Developing High Value-Added Products: Differentiating from emerging countries by strengthening the development of products that require advanced technology, such as high-strength steel, high-performance steel, and lightweight materials. In particular, product development that meets the needs of growth fields such as automobile electrification, lightweighting, automated driving, aerospace, and energy is important.
• Optimizing Global Expansion: Accurately grasping the needs of overseas markets and promoting the optimal placement of production and sales bases and the strengthening of supply chains. It is also necessary to consider responses to geopolitical risks.
• Promoting DX (Digital Transformation): Utilizing digital technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data to optimize production processes, business processes, and the entire supply chain to improve productivity, reduce costs, and improve quality.
• Contributing to Resource Recycling: Promoting the recycling of scrap iron by electric furnaces to contribute to the effective use of resources and the reduction of environmental impact. Responding to the circular economy is also important.
• Human Resource Development: Developing human resources with advanced expertise and a global perspective who can respond to the above challenges, especially the development of digital human resources and environmental technology human resources, is urgent.

The Japanese steel industry is composed of diverse companies, including blast furnace steelmakers, electric furnace steelmakers, special steel manufacturers, stainless steel manufacturers, and steel pipe manufacturers. Each company makes use of its strengths to provide essential materials to various industries such as automobiles, construction, energy, and machinery. In recent years, they have faced a severe business environment, including intensifying global competition, the rise of Chinese steel manufacturers, and demands for decarbonization, but each company is actively promoting the development of high value-added products, the strengthening of global expansion, and efforts to reduce environmental impact.