The Japan/Western Australian cargo shipping service was inaugurated in September 1957 by Iino Kaiun Kaisha Ltd. The first ship M.S. "Ikushima Maru" sailed from Japan for Fremantle direct, thereby establishing the first regular cargo shipping service to operate between Japan and Western Australia. In April 1964, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd ("K" Line) took over the Japan/Western Australia service through their merger with Iino.