Then, Now and the Future: Caterpillar in Japan
July 23, 2019
Caterpillar products and services have been sold across the globe for over 100 years. By the early 1920s, stories begin appearing in company literature about Caterpillar equipment succeeding in Japan. Some notable firsts in Japan include:
One hundred years ago, in 1919, the first Japanese customer tour occurred at Holt’s East Peoria Plant in Illinois.
Caterpillar’s other predecessor company, the C.L. Best Tractor Co., sold their equipment through a former Tokyo dealer named Suzuki & Company in 1923.
Nine Cat® machines were involved in the effort to push part of a mountain into the sea as part of the Kobe Bay Reclamation Project in 1961. Did you know that this 19.5 million cubic yard job is still one of the largest earthmoving operations that has occurred in Japan? Completed in 1966, it reclaimed a valuable portion of the Kobe Bay and established a new residential and industrial area.
Read more about our history in Japan, including how we won the effort to help our customers complete a major project to reclaim Kobe Bay that project.
Today in Japan
Today, our Japan team leads in the development of hydraulic excavators for our global customers. Cat Financial also has a presence in region to support local customers.
Our amazing team in Japan supports STEM efforts – including a new Women’s STEM award that was recently launched in commemoration of Akashi’s 10th anniversary of becoming a Caterpillar company. The team, with the Caterpillar Foundation, also generously gives back to the community.
Looking to the Future
We are excited about efforts happening in Japan and the incredible history we share. There’s a lot to be proud of – from local teams generously giving back to the community to the development of world-class hydraulic excavators to support of STEM initiatives.
And, most importantly, we’re looking forward to another 100+ years!
The exhibition included a new era calligraphy performance where one of our machines wrote Japanese old and new era names, “HEISEI” and “REIWA.”
When the emperor changes, we use new era name. On May 1, 2019, the era name changed to “REIWA” meaning beautiful harmony according to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The calligraphy performance was part of the Working Vehicle and Frontier Exhibition. PHOTOS
In commemoration of Akashi’s 10th anniversary of becoming a Caterpillar company, a Women’s STEM award was launched to recognize and support local STEM efforts.
The award, with the support of the local community and engineering societies, helps accelerate innovative capability in Japan, especially female engineers.
Caterpillar and supporting groups gathered to honor the first recipient of the award.
The Working Vehicle and Frontier Exhibition showcased Caterpillar and showed how exciting our machines can be to the local community!
The Working Vehicle and Frontier Exhibition showcased Caterpillar and showed how exciting our machines can be to the local community!
The Working Vehicle and Frontier Exhibition showcased Caterpillar and showed how exciting our machines can be to the local community!
