Shinken

What Shinken does

Shinken (株式会社シンケン) is a Japanese B2B professional services firm providing independent third-party measurement and inspection services primarily at ports, warehouses, and disaster sites across Japan. Founded in December 1997 as a spin-off from the measurement division of the General Incorporated Foundation Shinken Inspection Association (新日本検定協会, founded 1948), Shinken operates as a strategic subsidiary of that group. The company holds a license under the Port Transportation Business Act for measurement operations, granted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in January 2015.

The business is organized into two core service lines. The Measurement Business (検量事業) covers shipping cargo weighing, landed cargo weighing, comprehensive warehouse testing, and container attendance for import/export goods, producing official certificates used in customs clearance, insurance claims, and international trade documentation. The Inspection Business (インスペクション事業) covers field surveys for insurance damage assessment, document-based examinations, natural disaster response support, pre-shipment inspection (notably for Thailand-bound exports), and recycled steel evaluation including radiation detection. Underlying technology is specialized measurement and survey equipment operated by certified human inspectors; no proprietary software platform, APIs, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

Shinken generates revenue through professional service fees on a quote-based B2B model, with pricing determined per service type, scope, and complexity. The company employs approximately 200 full-time staff distributed across 14+ offices spanning Yokohama (headquarters), Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka, Kitakyushu, and satellite offices at ports including Ota, Chiba, Shizuoka, Kurashiki, and Hiroshima. Customers are concentrated in three primary segments: import/export shipping companies, insurance companies, and manufacturing/recycling firms, with documented engagements including the Japanese Antarctic research vessel Shirase. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct inquiry, website contact forms, and the established reputation of the Shinken Inspection Association group. Banking relationships are with Mizuho Bank and Yokohama Shinkin Bank.

Name

Shinken

Legal name

株式会社シンケン

Website

https://skn-shinken.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Shinken is a Japanese B2B professional services firm providing government-licensed cargo measurement and inspection services for shipping companies, insurance firms, and manufacturers across Japan. Operating as a subsidiary of the Shinken Inspection Association (est. 1948), the company employs approximately 200 staff across 14+ nationwide port-area offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Logistics Inspection and Measurement Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Cargo Surveying, Tallying & Damage Control (Terminal Inspection Support) (TLAHALAK)

Keywords

• Cargo measurement services
• Port logistics inspection
• Shipping cargo weighing
• Insurance damage assessment
• Container cargo verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Measurement Services (検量事業): Professional measurement services including shipping cargo weighing, landed cargo weighing, comprehensive testing, and container attendance. These services generate revenue through fees for cargo measurement, certification, and quality verification.
2. Inspection Services (インスペクション事業): Inspection services including field surveys, document examination, natural disaster support, pre-shipment inspection, and recycled steel evaluation. Revenue generated through inspection fees, damage assessment fees, and certification issuance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Shinken provides independent third-party measurement and inspection services supporting port logistics and international trade. Its Measurement Business covers shipping cargo weighing, landed cargo weighing, warehouse measurement, and container attendance for import/export goods. Its Inspection Business provides field surveys for insurance damage assessment, document examinations, natural disaster response support, pre-shipment inspections, and recycled steel grading and safety evaluation.

Product overview

Shinken operates two core business lines: Measurement Services (検量事業) and Inspection Services (インスペクション事業). The Measurement Business encompasses shipping cargo weighing, landed cargo weighing, comprehensive warehouse testing, and container attendance for import/export cargo. The Inspection Business provides field surveys for insurance damage assessment, document-based examinations, natural disaster support services, pre-shipment inspections primarily for Thailand-bound exports, and recycled steel grading and safety evaluation. The company functions as a third-party certification body contributing to smooth logistics and fair commercial transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Measurement Business (検量事業) Provides certified cargo measurement services covering shipping cargo weighing, landed cargo weighing, warehouse measurement, and container attendance for import/export goods. Serves shipping companies, customs brokers, and logistics operators in Japan.
• Shipping Cargo Weighing (船積検量) Measures and certifies export cargo weight, volume, condition, and markings for international maritime transport. Used by exporters and shipping lines for cargo certification prior to vessel loading.
• Landed Cargo Weighing (陸揚検量)
• Comprehensive Warehouse Measurement (入庫検量)
• Container Attendance (コンテナ立会)
• Inspection Business (インスペクション事業) Provides independent third-party inspection services including field surveys for insurance damage assessment, document examination, natural disaster response, pre-shipment inspection, and recycled steel grading and safety evaluation. Serves insurance companies, manufacturers, recyclers, and government clients.
• Field Survey (現地調査)
• Document Examination (書類審査)
• Natural Disaster Support (自然災害支援)
• Pre-shipment Inspection (船積前検査)
• Evaluation of Recycled Steel (リサイクル鋼材の評価)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 一般ußen Foundation 新日本検定協会 (Shinken Inspection Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and group company. Shinken was established in 1997 as a spin-off from the measurement department of Shinken Inspection Association. The association provides ongoing oversight with one of its directors serving as auditor for Shinken. Shinken acquired the measurement business from the association in 2015 with government approval.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Swiss-headquartered global TIC leader operating an Agricultural & Food, Minerals, and Trade & Inspection division that includes cargo weighing, pre-shipment inspection, and customs support services. Comparable in service-line scope (measurement, inspection, certification) but operates globally rather than solely in Japan like Shinken.
• ALS Limited: Australian-listed global testing services provider with commodity inspection, cargo superintending, and laboratory testing capabilities at ports. Comparable in port-based cargo measurement and inspection service offerings, particularly for minerals and metals trades — adjacent to Shinken's recycled steel grading business.
• Bureau Veritas: French-headquartered global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) giant with a Marine & Offshore division providing cargo surveying, marine warranty, and port-based inspection services worldwide, including in Japan. Comparable as a third-party cargo surveyor with government-recognized certification authority, though far broader in scope than Shinken's Japan-focused port measurement and inspection business.
• TÜV Rheinland Japan: German-headquartered TIC giant with Japanese operations providing industrial testing, inspection, and certification services. Comparable in third-party verification and certification offerings, though TÜV Rheinland's portfolio spans far beyond Shinken's maritime and cargo-focused mandate.
• Intertek: UK-headquartered TIC firm providing cargo inspection, agricultural services, and petroleum/chemical testing at ports worldwide. Comparable in third-party cargo measurement, pre-shipment inspection, and damage assessment capabilities, though Intertek's scale and international reach far exceed Shinken's domestic Japanese focus.

Direct peers

• Inspectorate (Bureau Veritas subsidiary): Cargo inspection specialist brand under Bureau Veritas providing weighing, sampling, and quality verification for commodities at ports and terminals globally. Direct comparable in port-based cargo measurement, container attendance, and commodity inspection services.
• Cotecna: Swiss-headquartered inspection and certification company specializing in pre-shipment inspection, cargo scanning, and trade-related verification services for governments and trading companies. Comparable in mission (third-party trade inspection, pre-shipment verification, cargo attestation) and customer base overlap with Shinken's shipping and pre-shipment inspection lines.
• Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai (NKKK): Japanese maritime surveying and classification society performing ship and cargo surveys, loss adjustment, and measurement services. Comparable as a Japanese-headquartered third-party surveyor with insurance damage assessment and marine cargo certification offerings overlapping Shinken's inspection business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shinken