Kajima Corporation (鹿島建設株式会社) is one of Japan’s largest construction and engineering companies, tracing its roots to a carpentry business founded in 1840. Its corporate symbol, known as “Kaneka,” is one of the oldest continuously used construction industry marks in Japan, with origins in the Meiji era.
Design and History
The Kajima symbol mark is based on the L-shaped carpenter’s tool called kanejaku (曲尺), a carpenter’s square, combined with the katakana character “カ.” The “カ” represents both the “Ka” of Kajima and the Japanese word chikara (力), meaning “strength” or “power.” The mark came to be called “Kaneka,” a combination of kane (the carpenter’s square) and “ka,” and was used by the company’s predecessor, Kajima-gumi, from the early Meiji period.[1]
According to Kajima’s own corporate history, the symbol was formally created as a trademark around 1911, when the company was transitioning from Western-style building construction to railway contracting. The design incorporates the kanejaku as a symbol of technical skill, reflecting the founder’s pride in the company’s carpentry origins. The phrase “Kane ni Ka no ji wa Kajima-gumi” (“The Ka on the square means Kajima-gumi”) became a well-known saying associated with the mark.[2]
In 1991, Kajima introduced a new corporate symbol that has been in use since then. The current mark places the stylized kanejaku and “カ” motif at its center, accompanied by the company name in both Japanese and English lettering. The earlier Meiji-era “Kaneka” mark continues to appear in historical contexts and on commemorative materials.[3]
Meaning and Symbolism
The kanejaku (carpenter’s square) in the Kajima mark symbolizes technical skill and craftsmanship, a deliberate reference to the company’s origins as a carpentry business. The “カ” character within the square carries a dual meaning: it stands for Kajima’s initial and for chikara (strength). Together, the elements express the idea of strength through technical expertise.[1][2]
Kajima’s official website describes the mark as the company’s symbol, flown on flags at construction sites across Japan. The design’s longevity reflects its role as a recognizable identifier for the firm throughout its history.[4]
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