Japan-China International Ferry Co., Ltd.

Japan-China International Ferry Co., Ltd. (日中国際フェリー株式会社) is a Japanese shipping company that operates the weekly passenger and cargo ferry service between Osaka/Kobe and Shanghai. The company was established on 29 September 1984 and is headquartered in Chuo-ku, Osaka. It is the Japanese side of a joint venture with the Chinese state shipping group COSCO, formed to create the first regular sea route between Japan and China after World War II. The service is marketed under the name "Kanjin" (鑑真号), after the Tang-dynasty monk Jianzhen (Ganjin) who made perilous voyages to Japan in the 8th century. The company's core business is the operation of the roll-on/roll-off passenger and cargo ferry that sails weekly between the Japanese ports of Osaka and Kobe and the Chinese port of Shanghai. The ship departs from Japan on Tuesdays, calls at Shanghai on Thursdays, and returns to the Hanshin port area on Monday mornings. The route passes through the Seto Inland Sea, the Kanmon Straits, and the East China Sea. The company also provides freight forwarding and ship agency services. The current flagship is the "Kanjin" (鑑真号), which entered service in 2024, replacing the "Suzhou" (蘇州號). The company previously operated the first-generation "Kanjin" (鑑真) from 1985 and the "Shin-Kanjin" (新鑑真) from 1994. The service is positioned as a comfortable, safe, and reliable alternative to air travel, offering a two-day crossing with Chinese cuisine and scenic views. The company's motto is "Safety, Speed, Certainty" (安全、迅速、確実). Japan-China International Ferry is a private company. Its major shareholders include Showa Kigyo, Taiheiyo Kisen, Onomichi Dockyard, Kansai Electric Power, Nippon Yusen (NYK), Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Nippon Express, Kamigumi, Tatsumi Shokai, Nisshin, and KNT-CT Holdings. The representative director and president is Koichi Murakami. The company's capital is 1 billion yen. It maintains offices in Osaka and Shanghai.

Japan-China International Ferry Co., Ltd. was established on 29 September 1984 as the Japanese side of a joint venture with the Chinese state shipping company COSCO. The joint venture, named "Chunichi Kokusai Wataru Yugenkoshi" (中日国際輪渡有限公司), was created to open the first regular sea route between Japan and China after World War II. In 1985, the company began operating the ferry "Kanjin" (鑑真), named after the Tang-dynasty Chinese monk Jianzhen (Ganjin) who, in the 8th century, made six attempts to cross to Japan to spread Buddhist precepts, finally succeeding on his sixth voyage despite having lost his sight. The name was chosen to reflect his indomitable spirit. The service initially connected Osaka and Kobe with Shanghai, providing a vital link for passengers and cargo between the two countries. In 1994, the company introduced the "Shin-Kanjin" (新鑑真), a new vessel that offered improved comfort and capacity. In 2019, the "Suzhou" (蘇州號) was transferred from Shanghai Ferry Co., Ltd., allowing the company to operate two ships on the route. In 2024, the "Suzhou" was replaced by a new vessel named "Kanjin" (鑑真号), which entered service after delivery at Weihai on 30 May 2024. Over the decades, the company has played a significant role in cultural and economic exchange between Japan and China, often described as a "sea bridge" (海の架け橋) and a "maritime Silk Road" (海のシルクロード). The service has been affected by various events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a suspension of passenger services. Passenger services were resumed in June 2025, but a temporary suspension was announced again in December 2025. The company continues to operate cargo services and has adjusted its fares and schedules in response to changing conditions. As of 2024, the company is headquartered in Osaka and maintains a capital of 1 billion yen. Its major shareholders include a mix of shipping, shipbuilding, trading, and financial companies, such as Showa Kigyo, Taiheiyo Kisen, Onomichi Dockyard, Kansai Electric Power, Nippon Yusen, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Nippon Express, Kamigumi, Tatsumi Shokai, Nisshin, and KNT-CT Holdings. The representative director and president is Koichi Murakami.

• Company established as a joint venture between Japanese investors and COSCO.

• First-generation ferry "Kanjin" (鑑真) enters service on the Osaka/Kobe–Shanghai route.

• "Shin-Kanjin" (新鑑真) introduced.

• "Suzhou" (蘇州號) transferred from Shanghai Ferry Co., Ltd., creating a two-ship operation.

• New "Kanjin" (鑑真号) delivered at Weihai.

• New "Kanjin" enters service, replacing "Suzhou".

• Passenger services resumed after suspension.

• Temporary suspension of passenger transport announced.

Comfortable, safe, and reliable sea bridge between Japan and China; pioneer of high-speed ferry services.

• Kanjin (鑑真号)

  Current flagship ferry, entered service in 2024, operating weekly between Osaka/Kobe and Shanghai.

• Shin-Kanjin (新鑑真)

  Ferry introduced in 1994, served the route until replaced.

• Suzhou (蘇州號)

  Ferry transferred from Shanghai Ferry in 2019, operated until 2024.

1. 1鑑真号（がんじんごう）日中国際フェリーshinganjin.com
2. 2鑑真号についてshinganjin.com
3. 3会社概要shinganjin.com
4. 4会社概要 - 企業情報shinganjin.com
5. 5Japan-China International Ferry Co., Ltd. - Wikidatawikidata.org