Houseflags of Japanese shipping companies (5)

This is Mitsui Osaka Shosen Kaisha, described in "All about Ships & Shipping" (1959) as "White with Red Charges". Accordingly this would be: "three horizontal bands white -red- white, proportioned (approximately) 2:3:2; the red band with white charges."
Jarig Bakker, 22 October 2003

Founded 1884, as Osaka Shosen Kaisha (O.S.K. Line) is founded. In 1964, Japan's shipping industry undergoes a major consolidation, creating Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) through mergers.

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The company resulted from the merger of Osaka Shosen Kaisha and Mitsui Senpaku K.K. being generally known by the English version of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., the Japanese version reversing the name order as Osaka Shosen Mitsui Senpaku Kabushiki Kaisha.The flag incorporates features from both companies with the 3 red bands representing the Kanji and Katakana meaning "Mi" or "Mitsu" which translates as "3", and the white "squashed x" symbol the Kanji "O".
Neale Rosanoski, 3 January 2004

From the The National Maritime Museum:

The house flag of Mitsui Senpaku K. K., Tokyo. A white flag with a red motif. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. The design is printed. A rope and two Inglefield clips is attached attached. The logo refers to the company name which means three ships.

Jarig Bakker, 20 August 2004

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There are three bars (mitsu = 3) inside a square, a stylized version of a kanji meaning "well" (as in water, read "i".) Mitsui is a common surname having nothing to do with ships. Thus the name "Mitsui" could be translated as "three wells".
Albert S. Kirsch, 20 August 2004

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Mitsui Senpaku K.K. originated 1876 as Mitsui Bussan Kaisha involved the carriage of coal. In 1942 the shipping division became independent as Mitsui Senpaku K.K.and then in the 1964 merges it combined into Osaka Shosen Mitsui Senpaku K.K. which is more usually known as Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003