17:
174:, to take on debt. Using this new tanker, Idemitsu imported high-octane gasoline from California and sold it in the Japanese domestic market. Soon, however, the major U.S. oil companies decided that there were profits to be made from selling naphtha directly to Japan, and they began to restrict sales of naphtha to Idemitsu in California. Idemitsu changed its sourcing to Houston, Texas, but soon sales were restricted there also. Eventually Idemitsu found a supplier in Venezuela.
140:
82:
61:. This bold move directly linked Iran, the world's leading oil producer, with Japan, a major oil consumer. As a result, the price of domestic oil products in Japan fell by tens of billions of yen a year, yielding great benefit to consumers. The British Anglo-Iranian Oil company (AIOC) filed a lawsuit requesting a provisional injunction for the seizure of oil products carried by the
898:
848:
215:
However, due to the acquiescence of the United States, which was not happy about
Britain's oil monopoly, and the backing of public opinion that expressed its approval, no administrative sanctions were taken. Idemitsu was vindicated in court, and the motion for provisional seizure was dismissed on May
198:
sailed on March 23, 1953, and reached Abadan without detection by the Royal Navy. There was jubilation on the streets of Abadan at her arrival, and the ship was greeted with flowers sweets and festive music. At this point, the incident was reported by mass media around the world and was recognized as
190:
At first, the
Iranian side was distrustful of Idemitsu, following disappointing experiences with companies from other countries that had not resulted in any actual trade, and Idemitsu was little more than a medium-sized company, virtually unknown outside Japan. However, agreement was reached after
177:
In these circumstances the dispute between the UK and Iran offered a unique opportunity to
Idemitsu - he needed a reliable and affordable supply of oil while Iran needed a partner who would defy the British to trade with her. This was to be the basis of secret negotiations that began in 1952. The
191:
persistent negotiations, discussions about complying with domestic and international laws, and measures to avoid putting diplomatic embarrassment to the
Japanese government. Iran eventually agreed that Idemitsu would purchase oil at a 30% discount against market price.
211:
The Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company filed a lawsuit against Idemitsu in the Tokyo District Court, claiming ownership of the cargo, and at the same time pressure was brought on the Japanese government through diplomatic channels to dispose of the cargo.
126:
on the grounds that the ship's petroleum was stolen property. News that the Royal Navy was intercepting tankers carrying
Iranian oil scared off other tankers and effectively shut down oil exports from Iran. The United States under President
159:, but Idemitsu managed to secure a licence to operate as a primary distributor in 1949, operating both wholesale and retail businesses. Idemitsu began importing high-grade US gasoline and sold it in Japan under the “Apollo” brand from 1952.
199:
an international incident. In Japan, the incident front-page news, reported as an unarmed private company picking a fight with the Royal Navy, which boasted the second largest naval force in the world at the time. On April 15, the
360:
11 April - Iran's
Foreign Minister announces that his government has an agreement with Idemitsu to buy oil. Britain asks Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister to investigate claims that Idemitsu is purchasing Iranian
1240:
203:, fully loaded, left Abadan amid worldwide attention. She sailed through shoals and mines, outwitted the Royal Navy, and broke through the naval blockade, arriving at Kawasaki Port at 9am on May 9.
1066:
73:. For Japan the incident was a morale-boosting episode in a country still emerging from postwar occupation. For Iran it was a small but inspiring victory against Britain and the United States.
443:
9 May - Keizo Tamaki, Vice-Minister of
International Trade and Industry, tells reporters that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry does not want to become involved in this conflict
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1100:
419:
7 May - UK confirms that the Nissho Maru has arrived in
Japanese territorial waters. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company immediately files an application for a provisional injunction with the
409:
April–May: Six
Japanese automobile organizations announce that they welcome imports of Iranian oil. At the same time, the media became more intense and various opinions were expressed
111:
on the country. These prohibited exports of key British commodities, including sugar and blocked Iran's access to its hard currency accounts in British banks.
1236:
Energy and Japan-Iran Relations in 1950s: Reassessing the Idemitsu's Oil Deal with Iran, Abdoly Keivan, Middle East Review, 2018 Volume 5 Pages 152-160
179:
65:, but the Tokyo District Court and the Tokyo High Court refused to grant one, and the British were unsuccessful following years of litigation. The
406:
30 April - Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs states to the UK that it cannot intervene in private transactions about which it has no knowledge
461:
June - The Iranian government announced that it would review the original contract with Idemitsu and offer oil at a significantly reduced price
22:
350:
163:
1280:
1251:
A Critique of the Iranian Oil Litigation, D. P. O'Connell, The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr., 1955)
612:
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216:
27. Although Anglo-Iranian filed an appeal on the same day, it was withdrawn on October 29, resulting in a victory for Idemitsu.
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27 May - Tokyo District Court rejects the application for provisional disposition and Idemitsu is therefore free to sell the oil
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26 April - Nissho Maru takes advantage of the darkness to evade the Royal Navy by passing through the dangerous reefs of the
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289:
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6 November - Keisuke Idemitsu and others arrive in Pakistan, and despite being refused entry, manage to enter the country
1315:
1275:
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Compensation for Expropriated Property in Recent International Law, Amir Rafat, Villanova Law Review, vol 4 no. 2, 1969
822:
485:
440:
9 May - Nissho Maru arrives at Kawasaki. On the same day, the first oral arguments are made at the Tokyo District Court
155:
was trying to re-establish itself. Oil production and distribution had fallen under Japanese state control during the
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7 June - Nissho Maru arrives at Abadan Port again, greeted by Iranian government officials and thousands of people
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357:, the British ambassador to Japan, to investigate. Idemitsu reports to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Japanese government feared any possible conflict with Britain so Idemitsu secretly dispatched Managing Director
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and holds a press conference to release diversionary information that they are planning to enter the port of
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to build a new tanker. It was as named the Nissho Maru after an earlier ship of the same name. Built in the
638:
697:
182:
to Iran as a negotiator. He held talks with Iranian leaders including Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.
1241:
Anglo-Iranian Oil Company v. Idemitsu Kosan Kabushiki Kaisha, International Law Reports, 1 January 2021
947:
234:
702:
458:
27 May - Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces the government will not be involved in any way
170:, it was very large by the standards of the time, and its construction was very expensive, requiring
367:
15 April - Nissho Maru departs Abadan, slightly scraping her bottom while passing through shallows
507:
875:
1265:
508:"Case 13 Sazo Idemitsu: From "Oil Merchant of the Continent" to "Hero of Native Oil Companies""
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565:
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8 May - Idemitsu receives information that the Royal Navy is flying military aircraft from
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March - Nissho Maru's laying-down ceremony. The ship was exceptionally large (18,000 DWT)
148:
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23 March - Nissho Maru leaves Kobe with a falsified destination stated as Saudi Arabia
53:) was a 1953 incident in which a Japanese ship broke the oil trading embargo that the
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433:. Later the same day the Nissho Maru is photographed by a newspaper off the coast of
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38:
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9 November - Keisuke Idemitsu and others begun talks with the Iranian Prime Minister
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16:
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which became the best-selling book of the year in Japan in 2013, and the movie
370:
16 April - Nissho Maru passes through the Strait of Hormuz under cover of night
152:
54:
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343:
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90:
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15 June - the Italian - Swiss jointly-funded ship Rose Mary captured by the
85:
Iranian flag raised at the General Office of the former AIOC in Khorramshahr
899:"استقبال از "نیشومارو" به دلیل شکسته شدن تحریم نفت ایران توسط این کشتی بود"
374:
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22 October - Iran announces severance of diplomatic relations with Britain
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16 May - The second oral argument heard at the Tokyo District Court
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26 April - Nissho Maru takes a major detour and passes through the
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15 February - Iran and Idemitsu officially sign oil trade agreement
706:. Retrieved November 15, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
263:
5 November - Keisuke Idemitsu and Haruo Teshima depart from Japan
269:
8 November - Keisuke Idemitsu and others leave Pakistan for Iran
104:
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6 February - Keisuke Idemitsu and others depart for Iran again
81:
446:
13 May - Nissho Maru completes unloading and escapes seizure
309:
123:
58:
437:, indicating that the stated destination was a diversion.
275:
19 November - Keisuke Idemitsu and others return to Japan
1211:"Japanese, Iranian Writers Meet at Tehran Peace Museum"
349:
10 April - Nissho Maru enters Abadan Port. The British
131:
supported the British in their hard line against Iran.
791:"Family Business and IPOs: The Case of Idemitsu Kosan"
761:"Family Business and IPOs: The Case of Idemitsu Kosan"
1141:
Chronology of International Events and Documents, Vol
666:"Iranian Nationalism and the Great Powers: 1872-1954"
292:
obtains information on Idemitsu's contacts with Iran
663:
1257:
1137:"[CHRONOLOGY, 7 MAY 1953 - 20 MAY 1953]"
1074:Chronology of International Events and Documents
237:is concluded and Japan becomes independent again
97:nationalisation of British oil interests in Iran
1108:The International and Comparative Law Quarterly
342:9 April - Nissho Maru reaches the mouth of the
301:16 March - Nissho Maru returns from America to
122:and forced it into the British protectorate of
718:, Vol. 49. St. James Press, 2003 as quoted on
664:Paine, Chris; Schoenberger, Erica (May 1975).
308:18 March - Nissho Maru moves from Kawasaki to
897:امروؤ, رمضان ماهسانی عصر (24 February 2014).
103:, British warships blockaded the oil port of
716:International Directory of Company Histories
593:. The West Australian. Reuters. 19 June 1952
512:History of Innovative Entrepreneurs in Japan
185:
69:received a hero's welcome when it docked in
449:14 May - Nissho Maru departs again for Iran
1213:. Iran’s Book News Agency. 25 February 201
1101:"A Critique of the Iranian Oil Litigation"
396:, ends radio silence and contacts Idemitsu
386:29 April - Nissho Maru passes through the
328:31 March - Nissho Maru passes through the
318:25 March - Nissho Maru passes through the
257:26 September - Nissho Maru launch ceremony
1098:
849:"پیشنهاد شرکت نفتی "ایده میتسو" به مصدق"
691:
335:8 April - Nissho Maru passes through the
1023:"Japan too buys oil from Persia cheaply"
998:
558:
556:
364:13 April - Nissho Maru completes loading
162:In 1951 Idemitsu Kosan was permitted by
138:
80:
15:
1191:. Newcastle Morning Herald. 28 May 1953
505:
412:4 May - Nissho Maru passes through the
151:ended in April 1952 and petroleum firm
1258:
1167:"Court Rejects Appeal On Cargo Of Oil"
1131:
1129:
619:. HC Deb 19 June 1952 vol 502 cc1555-6
562:
499:
107:and on 22 August 1951 Britain imposed
974:"History of Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd"
920:
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874:Azimi, Nassrine (17 February 2010).
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312:for unloading, arriving the next day
290:Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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392:30 April - Nissho Maru reaches the
278:22 December - Nissho Maru completed
50:
13:
1229:
1169:. The West Australian. 28 May 1953
948:"イランとの直接取引で世界で初めて石油製品を輸入した「日章丸事件」"
928:. The Mercury. Reuter. 12 May 1953
913:
812:
486:Fueled: The Man They Called Pirate
399:30 April - UK summons Ambassador
14:
1327:
1047:. Kalgoorlie Miner. 13 April 1953
1025:. Sunday Mail. AAP. 22 April 1953
999:Sakamoto, Keizo (17 April 2021).
526:
377:to avoid three British destroyers
134:
506:Kikkawa, Takeo (19 March 2023).
473:The incident inspired the novel
1301:1953 in international relations
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416:to the north of the Philippines
118:intercepted the Italian tanker
1281:Japan–United Kingdom relations
1099:O’Connell, D.P. (April 1955).
631:
605:
583:
541:. Asia Sentinel. 14 March 2014
539:"Japan Has a Friend in Tehran"
76:
1:
800:. East Asian Business History
798:eastasianbusinesshistoryfiles
770:. East Asian Business History
768:eastasianbusinesshistoryfiles
492:
206:
1001:"イランが親日国になった理由＝日露戦争勝利と日章丸事件"
57:had unilaterally imposed on
7:
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10:
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235:San Francisco Peace Treaty
88:
1316:Economic history of Japan
1276:Anglo-Persian Oil Company
980:. Idemitsu Tanker Co. Ltd
639:"IRAN: Unbroken Blockade"
468:
186:Oil purchase and delivery
42:
1311:Economic history of Iran
1306:1953 in economic history
1189:"UK Firm Loses Oil Case"
698:Idemitsu Kōsan Co., Ltd.
563:Kinzer, Stephen (2003).
26:and captain Tatsuo Nitta
926:"Jap Bid For Oil Cargo"
703:Encyclopædia Britannica
569:. John Wiley and Sons.
403:to make a stern protest
1286:Foreign trade of Japan
591:"Aden Holds Rose Mary"
144:
86:
27:
1291:Foreign trade of Iran
1067:"16 April-6 May 1953"
1045:"Sale of Persian Oil"
876:"Japan's Iran Moment"
855:. Donya-e-Eqtisad.com
823:"Idemitsu Kosan K.K."
721:"Answers.com article"
339:under cover of night.
142:
89:Further information:
84:
19:
1296:Iran–Japan relations
421:Tokyo District Court
322:to the north of the
853:donya-e-eqtesad.com
789:Shimamoto, Minoru.
759:Shimamoto, Minoru.
476:A Man Called Pirate
828:. Encyclopedia.com
566:All the Shah's Men
401:Shunichi Matsumoto
330:Straits of Malacca
233:8 September - the
145:
114:In July 1952, the
109:economic sanctions
99:by Prime Minister
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740:"FundingUniverse"
337:Straits of Hormuz
320:Balintang Channel
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1271:1953 in Iran
1215:. Retrieved
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1114:(2): 267–293
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978:Idemitsu.com
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901:. Mehr News
882:4 September
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832:4 September
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774:3 September
726:Answers.com
700:(2008). In
683:3 September
649:3 September
623:3 September
597:3 September
545:3 September
518:3 September
324:Philippines
253:Arabian Sea
201:Nissho Maru
196:Nissho Maru
77:Oil embargo
67:Nissho Maru
63:Nissho Maru
33:Nissho Maru
23:Nissho Maru
20:The tanker
1260:Categories
954:. Idemitsu
745:2008-11-14
732:2008-11-14
576:0471265179
493:References
249:Royal Navy
207:Legal case
116:Royal Navy
1147:(10): 312
613:"Hansard"
514:: 149–159
427:Hiroshima
120:Rose Mary
101:Mossadegh
643:time.com
489:(2016).
431:Tokuyama
382:Java Sea
346:estuary.
305:in Japan
303:Kawasaki
220:Timeline
71:Kawasaki
39:Japanese
35:Incident
353:orders
251:in the
47:Persian
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469:Legacy
105:Abadan
1104:(PDF)
1070:(PDF)
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43:日章丸事件
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737:and
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625:2023
599:2023
571:ISBN
547:2023
520:2023
310:Kobe
283:1953
242:1952
225:1951
194:The
164:MITI
124:Aden
59:Iran
30:The
674:doi
479:by
361:oil
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