Kumagai Gumi began in January 1898 when Santaro Kumagai, a stonemason from Fukui, received an order to construct the waterway for the Shukununo Power Plant, which would be just the third power plant in Japan. Thereafter Santaro would hone his skills and gain trust through various construction projects throughout Japan including railways and power plants, and then in January 1938 he took the first step toward modern management by reorganizing into a joint-stock company.

1898

January
Founded Kumagai Gumi

1899

May
Construction completed of the Shukununo Power Plant (Construction started in November 1897)

1937

August
Sanshin Railway (currently the JR Iida Line) completely opens

1938

January
Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd. established (Capital 400,000 yen)
Representative Director: Santaro Kumagai
Head Office: 1, Uemachi, Dojima-cho, Fukui-shi

1939

January
Company regulations established (Revised in 1946, Corporate Philosophy)

1940

January
Tasaburo Kumagai appointed as president, Santaro Kumagai appointed as chairman