Japan Machinery Maintenance Co., Ltd.

Opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo to Shin-Osaka)

October 1964: Tokaido Shinkansen Opening Ceremony

Members involved in company establishment preparations

The world’s first high-speed railway, the Tokaido Shinkansen, opened in 1964, requiring advanced track maintenance technology at a millimeter precision tailored for high-speed rail, unlike before. Our company was founded to maintain and repair the Tokaido Shinkansen tracks. Because Shinkansen trains run at about twice the speed of conventional express trains, the tracks are more than twice as prone to distortion, and train sway is greater, necessitating higher-precision track maintenance. Traditional maintenance was performed manually, but that was insufficient, so the introduction of the large track maintenance machine “Multiple Titan Putter” (commonly called “Marutai”) became necessary.

Establishment of Japan Machinery Maintenance Co., Ltd. with capital of 40 million yen

Completion of the construction of a work system covering the entire Tokaido Shinkansen line

We became involved in the construction of the Sanyo, Tohoku, and Joetsu Shinkansen, and were entrusted with maintaining all four of Japan’s Shinkansen lines at the time. Shortly after our establishment, we handled maintenance work on the Tokaido Shinkansen, and our performance was recognized, leading us to participate in the construction of the Sanyo, Tohoku, and Joetsu Shinkansen. After each line opened, we were assigned maintenance work, and our operations expanded rapidly.

Contracted track maintenance work by Marutai for the construction of the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka to Okayama)

Opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka to Okayama)

The Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka to Okayama) began operations. Commencement of regular track maintenance by Marutai

Addressed Shinkansen noise issues in the Nagoya area of the Tokaido Shinkansen, trialing rail straightening with a single-head straightening machine

Established the Hamamatsu maintenance plant

The Sanyo Shinkansen (Okayama to Hakata) began operations and started regular maintenance by Marutai. Established the Kokura track section

Contracted rail welding work using a Soviet-style flash butt welding machine at the Tokaido Shinkansen Yuzuki base

Contracted rail straightening work for Nagoya City Subway

Contracted design and management work for the construction of Fukuoka City Subway

Capital increased from 40 million yen to 80 million yen

Opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen (Omiya to Morioka)

Opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen (Omiya to Niigata)

Following the full outsourcing of the Japan National Railways Hamamatsu Rail Center, we have taken on rail welding work.

Based on the policy to outsource the directly managed sections of Shinkansen Marutai work, we are now fully taking on the orders.

Started long rail unloading and loading operations on the Shinkansen.

Commenced rail straightening work on the Tokaido Shinkansen using a 40-car Spanish (Swiss) rail straightening car.

The length of track maintenance expanded to a total of 1,600 km, roughly three times the distance between Tokyo and Osaka. Since the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen, our company had been involved in maintenance except for some sections, but in 1984 we were assigned to the entire line. This dramatically increased the maintenance length. In 1969, when we began operations, the maintenance length was 830 km per year, but by 1985 it reached 1,600 km per year, roughly doubling over 16 years. We maintained more than three times the length of the approximately 500 km between Tokyo and Osaka.

Capital increased from 80 million yen to 100 million yen (free capital increase).

JR companies were established following the privatization of Japan National Railways.

Commenced rail straightening work on the Sanyo Shinkansen using a 32-car Spanish rail straightening car.

Started operations in the Hamamatsu area of the Tokaido Shinkansen using our own 09-32CSM Marutai from Pallas (Austria).

Tokaido Shinkansen Opening Ceremony

Commenced rail straightening work on the Tokaido Shinkansen using a 48-car Spanish rail straightening car.

Started track bed maintenance work in the Shizuoka area of the Tokaido Shinkansen using Pallas's KVP-2000 track bed maintenance vehicle.

Our company became a subsidiary of JR Central. With the birth of the 270 km/h “Nozomi”, we placed even greater emphasis on “comfort”. The national railway transformed into JR, and five years later, our company became part of the JR Central group. That year, the Nozomi, the fastest Shinkansen at 270 km/h, began operation, achieving remarkable speed increases. We further focused on improving ride comfort.

Transferred the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen operations to Tohoku Engineering Co., Ltd.

JR Central acquired our shares and became a group company.

Transferred operations west of Osaka to Nishinihon Machinery Maintenance Co., Ltd. (H4.4.1 spin-off).

Started track bed stabilization work in the Shizuoka area of the Shinkansen using Pallas's DTS62N track bed stabilization vehicle.

Commenced rail inspection work on conventional lines using Gemco's (Australia) RTV-A3 rail inspection vehicle.

Started inspection and maintenance of Shinkansen maintenance machinery.

Commenced track and electrical comprehensive testing on conventional lines using the Doctor Tokai test vehicle.

Established a rescue system on the Shinkansen to prepare for maintenance vehicle failures during nighttime operations.

Our new Marutai 09-2X began operations in the Hamamatsu area.

Started inspection and maintenance of three types, including the Multiple Ty Tamer, in the newly completed inspection facility at the Shinkansen Hamamatsu maintenance base.

Started rail straightening work on conventional lines using the 8-car Speno rail straightening vehicle.

We began inspection operations of the “Doctor Yellow” at 270 km/h, the same speed as the Nozomi, to precisely inspect tracks. We were assigned to conduct inspection work with the comprehensive test train “Doctor Yellow”, which examines the condition of Shinkansen tracks. That year, the 700 series Doctor Yellow, identical to the Nozomi, was introduced. Previously, inspections were conducted at 210 km/h, but now they could be performed at 270 km/h, allowing us to measure ride comfort aspects such as sway with high precision under the same conditions as the Shinkansen.

Commenced inspection work on the Shinkansen electric and track comprehensive test vehicle.

Commenced inspection work on the Shinkansen rail flaw detection vehicle.

Commenced inspection work on the new electric and track comprehensive test vehicle 'Doctor Yellow'.

Obtained ISO 9001 certification.

Produced and delivered the first NBS (New Track Bed Replacement Maintenance Vehicle).

Started conventional line Marutai work, contributing to JR Central's maintenance education institutions.

Introduced a new metric 'Comfort Level Improvement by Marutai Work'.

Launched 'NKH News'.

Established corporate philosophy.

Started Marutai work on the main conventional line.

Produced and delivered a new Shinkansen rail flaw detection vehicle.

Commenced flaw detection work using the new Shinkansen rail flaw detection vehicle.

Delivered the new Shinkansen maintenance vehicle proximity alarm system and completed installation.

Held a celebration to commemorate the 40th anniversary of establishment.

Started rail straightening work on the Tokaido Shinkansen using the new Speno rail straightening vehicle.

Fully contracted the inspection vehicle work for the Shinkansen.

Merged the Tokyo, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokai Shizuoka, and Tokai Nagoya branches to establish 'Shinkansen Eastern Branch', 'Shinkansen Western Branch', and 'Tokai Branch'.

Relocated the Inazawa facility and renamed it 'Nagoya East Facility'.

Merged the Hamamatsu Rail Center and Hamamatsu STM facilities to establish the 'Hamamatsu Rail Management Office'.

Designated as an educational institution for obtaining and renewing qualifications related to maintenance vehicle escort instruction (Shinkansen).

Shizuoka East office relocates and changes its name to 'Kakegawa office'.

Commenced inspection operations using a new rail inspection vehicle for conventional lines.

Our newly acquired Marutai '09-2X-SD' began operations in the Hamamatsu area.

Completed rail welding work using a flash butt welder accompanying the introduction of 150m rails.

Started transporting 150m rails from Nishi-Hamamatsu Freight Station to the Hamamatsu Rail Center premises.

The new Shinkansen Marutai '09-2X/SH' began operations in the Odawara area.

The new Shinkansen Marutai '09-2X/SH' began operations in the Shizuoka area.

Held a celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of establishment.

Shinagawa office relocated and changed its name to 'Tokyo office'.

Yoshiwara office relocated and changed its name to 'Fuji office'.

The new Shinkansen Marutai '09-2X/SH' began operations across all regions.{

Existing branches and overseas offices were discontinued, and new "Kansai Branch", "Shizuoka Branch", and an "Office Center" were established.

Certified as a Health Management Excellence Corporation 2020 (Large Enterprise Division).

Received contracts for all conventional line Marutai works, opened the "Ogaki Office", renamed the Hamamatsu Maintenance Factory to "Maintenance Factory", and split the Hamamatsu Rail Office into "Rail Management Office" and "Rail Transportation Office".

The Toyohashi East Office relocated and was renamed "Gamagori Office".

Commenced work using the new inspection vehicle "R600".

Certified as a Health Management Excellence Corporation 2023 (Large Enterprise Division).

Certified as a Health Management Excellence Corporation 2024 (Large Enterprise Division).

Certified as a Health Management Excellence Corporation 2025 (Large Enterprise Division).

Certified as a Health Management Excellence Corporation 2026 (Large Enterprise Division)

Acquired shares of KANEKO Co., Ltd.