1934

Established Nagase Rubber Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Sumida Ward, Tokyo.

1938

Under The 1st Corporate Development Law, all manufacturers producing the rubber baseball balls jointly established Japan Rubber Baseball Manufacturing Co.,Ltd.

1943

Under a second Corporate Development Law, Japan Rubber Baseball Manufacturer Co., Ltd. was dissolved and all factories were closed.

1945

World War II was over.

1946

The production of our rubber baseball ball started under authorization by Ministry of Health and newly established Nagase Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd.

1948

Started The 1st Nagase Kenko-Cup of Kanto (Tokyo-area) Soft Tennis Tournament (Presently, it called Kanto Open Soft Tennis Tournament.).

Established Osaka Branch Office.

1950

Japan Rubber Baseball Association ended to use old-design rubber ball as an Official ball and started to use new-design rubber ball. Our Kenko rubber ball with new dimples on surface was authorized to use as an official ball.

1951

Our agency system was established to enlarge the business. Contracted with first-class wholesalers and led to its nationwide sales network.

Started to produce and sell Softball ball (licensed by Japan Softball Association).

1953

Recruited new brand of our soft tennis ball (to be authorized by Soft Tennis Association) and born newly as a N-1 Tennis Ball brand.

1956

Started The 1st All Japan Women Invitation Soft Tennis Tournament. (Presently, called All Japan Women Invitation Soft Tennis Tournament.)

Started The 1st All Japan Indoor Soft Tennis Tournament. (Presently, called All Japan Indoor Soft Tennis Tournament.)

1965

Osaka Branch Office newly named to Osaka Sales Office.

1980

Started to produce and sell a Badminton Court Mat (authorized-Mat by Japan Badminton Association).

1981

Opened Rubber Baseball Reference Room in our company.

1982

Started to spread Rubber Baseball and Soft Tennis to overseas countries.

1984

Started to produce and sell both Tennis Court Mat specialized to Indoors and Floor Mat for Rhythmic Gymnastics.

1985

Established Fukuoka (Kyushu) Sale Office. (Presently, Kyushu Sales Office).

Our company newly named Nagase Kenko Corporation.

1988

Contracted with Mr. Stefan Edberg, Swedish professional tennis player, for the sales and the promotion of Keno Tennis Ball (hard ball authorized by Japan Tennis Association).

1991

Started to produce and sell Floor Mat for Table Tennis. (In 1992, it was used in Barcelona Olympic.)

1998

Received the Distinguished Service Award from World Baseball Federation by evaluating the contribution to Baseball spreading and development.

2000

Released brand new ball called Kenko World ball aiming at the internationalization of Rubber Baseball.

Brand of Soft Tennis ball was renamed from N-1 to Kenko.

2002

Established The 1st All Japan Junior Soft Tennis Kenko Cup Tournament.

2005

Established Nagoya Sales Office.

2010

Held the first 1st camp of Nagase Special Soft Tennis.

2013

Appointed Mr. Jiro Nagase as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Yasuhiko Nagase as President and Representative Director.

2015

Appointed Mr. Shosaku Yanagida as Managing Director.

2016

Appointed Mr. Shosaku Yanagida as President and Representative Director and Mr.Jiro Nagase as Honorary Chairman of the Board.

Over 80 years ago, a Japanese merchant named Taikichi Nagase began manufacturing a rubber baseball that has become a Japanese tradition.

Combining a textured rubber surface with a hollow air center, “nankyu” baseballs are renowned in Japan for their safety and durability. More than 90 percent of Japanese children play with this safety baseball, and Nagase Kenko Corporation (NKC) is far and away the industry leader – holding a market share of more than 60%. In the eighty years it has been manufacturing this product, over 6 billion NKC balls have been sold – without a single serious injury.

Formally incorporated in 1936, NKC has now, under the leadership of President Jiro Nagase, developed into a global, multi-line sporting goods company. It has also become a worldwide leader in innovative research and the development of sports programs. In addition to its line of nankyu baseballs, NKC markets a wide range of sporting good products and services through its Team Sports and Tennis, Sports Flooring and Gymnastics Equipment and International Sales and Marketing divisions.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the Nagase Kenko Corporation presently employs a staff of over 250 individuals around the world. It maintains four Japanese manufacturing facilities and three regional sales offices in Osaka, Fukuoka and Hokkaido. In addition, it maintains an extensive network of agents, distributors and representatives who help to manage its sales and marketing and promotional activities around the world.