1895-1896 NYK Director Shoda Heigoro visits Europe to negotiate with European-Far Eastern Conference for new NYK European Line. Conference agrees to allow NYK to discharge cargo at London but not allowed to load eastbound goods at London, so NYK used Middlesbrough as loading port, for metal goods, heavy machinery, iron rails, textiles
1896 Nippon Yusen shipping company opens branch in London – begins operating its European Line
1897 August – first NYK liner from England to Japan – departs Southampton for Port Said, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kobe, Yokohama
1899 NYK wins London loading rights for eastbound journey
1899 July – NYK liner service to London starts – Hakata Maru
Ninjin 