NYK Line’s company song, “Towa ni Michi Ari” (The Path to Eternity), was created in 1986, the year following the company’s 100th anniversary, as a message looking ahead to NYK’s next 100 years. Since then, employees have sung it in unison at annual anniversary ceremonies and other occasions, and it was used as the background music in an NYK TV commercial released in February 2025. Nearly 40 years after its creation, the song continues to be cherished and passed down.

We spoke with composer Nobuhiko Kashiwara, who was responsible for the music, about the story behind its creation, his memories from that time, and the thoughts he infused into the song.

♪ Our path is colored ocean blue / So profound and meaningful
♪ More than one hundred years / Our next one hundred years

Filled with hope and determination for the future, NYK’s company song “The Path to Eternity” is sung not only in Japan but also by employees overseas. In 2019, it received the Best Lyrics Award at the Nikkei National Company Song Contest hosted by Nikkei Inc. The aspirations embedded in the song continue to shine today, resonating with many people.
The composer of the song is Nobuhiko Kashiwara, a musician who has worked as a composer, arranger, and producer of a wide range of genres — kayōkyoku (Showa era pop (1926-1989)), pop, rock, as well as commercial music, film soundtracks, and game music.
Over a career spanning more than 40 years, he has worked with many renowned Japanese artists, including Yutaka Ozaki, George Yanagi, Yoshie Kashiwabara, and Minako Honda. He has also provided songs for idol groups such as Momoiro Clover Z and AKB48, and composed music for numerous anime titles, including Sailor Moon and Gundam. His biography is filled with songs that many people have likely heard at least once.

Kashiwara was asked to compose NYK’s company song “The Path to Eternity” when he was just 23 years old. At the time, he had only recently become an independent musician and was taking on any work he could to establish himself.
“It was about my fifth or sixth year as a professional musician. I was touring all over Japan as a keyboardist in Yutaka Ozaki’s band, and in between, I was composing music for TV commercials. It was during that time that I received the request to compose NYK’s company song. The lyrics had already been written, and I was asked to create the music to match them. My honest reaction was, ‘Are you sure I’m the right person for this?’ After all, the lyricist was Akira Ito, famous for the Hitachi Group’s commercial song ‘Kono Ki Nan no Ki.’
For the recording, an orchestra and a choir were assembled. The orchestra was conducted by Yoichiro Omachi, who later became the first Japanese conductor to lead an orchestra at the Vienna State Opera. The soloist was the renowned opera singer Takao Okamura. It was truly an extraordinary lineup. And there I was — the only young, up-and-coming musician among them. The scale of the project was far beyond what I had imagined, and honestly, I was pretty intimidated (laughs).”

Despite his anxiety, Kashiwara decided to accept the challenge, telling himself, “I just have to do it.” Drawing inspiration from the lyrics and from his own image of NYK as a company, he set about composing the music.
“While cherishing the sense of hope and determination for the future embedded in the lyrics, I wanted to create a melody that evoked images of the vast, open sea, since NYK is a shipping company. At the same time, I was careful not to make the melody too rigid. The wording of the lyrics had a slightly nostalgic, song-like quality, and if I leaned too heavily into a traditional style, I felt the result would become stiff and dark.
So I subtly incorporated fractional chords and major chords commonly used in pop music into the chord progression — something rarely used in company songs. As I was composing, I remember feeling a bit nervous, wondering whether it was really okay to use those chords.”
The melody that emerged — slightly different in nuance from conventional company songs — may be one of the reasons why “The Path to Eternity” has continued to be sung without losing its luster even nearly 40 years later.

Kashiwara’s father was a banker at Mitsubishi.
“My father truly loved Mitsubishi. When I was a child, he took me to see a biographical film about Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of the Mitsubishi Group. He had already decided that I would become a Mitsubishi banker, and showing me that film may have been part of his education plan.”
However, Kashiwara chose to pursue a career as a musician.
“Being a musician is an unstable profession, so my father strongly opposed it. He shouted, ‘You can’t make a living doing something like music — it’s just a hobby!’ We ended up having a huge argument, and I left home to pursue my path as a musician.”
Even after becoming a professional musician, their relationship remained strained. What ultimately helped repair it was NYK’s company song “The Path to Eternity.”
“Because my father had such a strong attachment to Mitsubishi, when he learned that I had composed the company song for NYK, a Mitsubishi Group company, his view of me changed. He was so pleased that he even said, ‘I should buy NYK stock!’ (laughs).”
After “The Path to Eternity,” Kashiwara’s father began actively supporting his son’s work, buying CDs and following his career.

A recording session held at an external studio in August 1986. It was a large-scale project featuring a live orchestra and choir.

Although Kashiwara continued to expand his activities and achieve further success after composing “The Path to Eternity,” he notes that the music industry has changed dramatically over his nearly 45-year career.
“Music production has shifted to computer-based DTM (desktop music), opportunities to use live orchestras have drastically decreased, and large recording studios have been disappearing one after another. It has become difficult to carry out large-scale recordings like those we did back then. This isn’t limited to the music industry — new technologies have significantly changed how we work.
However, I believe that what truly needs to be delivered has not changed. It is the creator’s strong feelings that produce melodies that move people’s hearts and music that resonates with its time. That will never change, no matter the era, and I believe it will remain the same in the future.”
Kashiwara’s sentiments resonate deeply with NYK’s philosophy.
“Because of the connection I have through composing the company song, NYK is a company I find particularly interesting. Whenever I hear about the various challenges the company is taking on, I feel encouraged and motivated, even though it may be presumptuous to compare myself to them. Recently, I was especially struck by the news of Asuka III beginning operations under NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. I’m too busy to take the time right now, but someday I would love to travel leisurely aboard Asuka III.”

Thirty-nine years after its composition, “The Path to Eternity” continues to be sung. Kashiwara describes having the opportunity to compose it as a source of happiness in his career.
“Pop songs and commercial music are often forgotten as times change. But company songs are passed down regardless of the era. I remember composing this piece 39 years ago with that thought in mind. And now, it has truly become a reality. I sincerely hope that ‘The Path to Eternity’ will continue to be sung in the years to come.”
Created as a message looking 100 years into the future, NYK’s company song “The Path to Eternity” conveys not only hope for the future, but also the belief that the future is built on strong conviction. That sentiment was clearly felt in every word spoken by Kashiwara.
Thank you very much, Nobuhiko Kashiwara. We wish you continued success in the years ahead.