Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Kobe Steel made public on 8 October 2017 that its Aluminum & Copper Business had shipped nonconforming productsS1. Its March 2018 report, based on an independent committee investigation, said 525 customers had received such products as announced in October 2017, with more found laterS2. Two former directors or executive officers were found to have been directly involved before taking officeS2. Representative directors resignedS1. The company said no case required immediate suspension of use or recallS3. The Tachikawa Summary Court fined it 100 million yen on 13 March 2019S4. A US Justice Department document request ended in July 2019S5. No later enforcement step was found in a search for 2025 and 2026 developments.
- Also known as
- Kobe Steel, KOBELCO, Kobe Steel Group
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Records from
- Japan, United States
Scope. This record covers the quality data misconduct Kobe Steel disclosed from October 2017. It does not cover Kobelco Construction Machinery as a separate business, other Japanese makers caught in similar scandals, or any later quality issues. The 2019 fine was imposed by the Tachikawa Summary Court, not the Tokyo District Court, according to the company.
Claims assessed
5 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported79Kobe Steel disclosed in October 2017 that its Aluminum & Copper Business had shipped products that did not meet customer specifications with falsified inspection data.Company statement, 8 October 20173 records citedProduct claims
- Unverifiable31A 2018 press report said Kobe Steel's data fraud had lasted nearly five decades.Press report, July 20181 record citedProduct claims
- Partly supported53Kobe Steel said in 2018 that its safety verification had found no cases requiring immediate suspension of use or recall of customers' products.Company statement, 18 May 20182 records citedSafety
- Supported74Kobe Steel was fined 100 million yen in March 2019 for violating Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act over its product misconduct.Company statement, 13 March 20191 record citedFraud
- Supported62Kobe Steel said in July 2019 that the US Justice Department confirmed it required no further documents in its investigation of the misconduct.Company statement, 17 July 20192 records citedCorporate status
Cases and proceedings
- Public prosecutors v. Kobe Steel, Ltd.Tachikawa Summary Court, Japan. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Fine ordered on 13 March 2019.
- Fine of 100 million yen under the Unfair Competition Prevention ActS4
- Investigation concerning Kobe Steel USA Inc.US Department of Justice (grand jury request). Criminal. Not published.Stage: Document request concluded in July 2019, as reported by the company.
- DOJ confirms no further production or preservation needed, per the companyS5
Responses on record
- Kobe Steel, Ltd., 13 March 2019, on Kobe Steel was fined 100 million yen in March 2019 for violating Japan's Unfair Competitio...
The company apologized for the trouble and concern caused to customers and pointed to reforms of its structure and culture.S4
Revision history
- Profile and 5 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S4Tier B About the decision on Kobe Steel's violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention ActKobe Steel, Ltd.. Company statement. 13 March 2019.Company report of the Tachikawa Summary Court fine. It does not reproduce the judgment.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier B Conclusion of the Request for Document Production, etc. from the U.S. Judicial Administrative AuthorityKobe Steel, Ltd.. Company statement. 17 July 2019.Company account of the end of the US grand jury document request. It is not a DOJ declination letter.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S1Tier B Timeline of Key EventsKobe Steel, Ltd.. Company statement. As of 11 April 2018.Company timeline from June 2016 to March 2018, including the 8 October 2017 disclosure. It does not cover the prosecution or US matters.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier B Report on the Kobe Steel Group’s misconductKobe Steel, Ltd.. Commissioned report. 6 March 2018.Company report drawing on the Independent Investigation Committee's work. It does not state how long the misconduct lasted.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier B FAQsKobe Steel, Ltd.. Company statement. Updated 18 May 2018.Company answers on safety verification. It is the company's own assessment.Link working, checked 25 October 2026