The traditionally strong maritime ties between Greece and Japan and the mutual respect between the two countries were evident throughout the recent celebration of the 25th Anniversary of YANMAR Engineering’s Greek Office, held on Monday, 10 November 2025, at the InterContinental Hotel in Athens.
As the 25th Anniversary motto of YANMAR Engineering’s Greek Office proudly states, these 25 years have been built on Trust, Innovation, and Mutual Respect; values that perfectly capture the company’s philosophy, ethos, and way of doing business. They also reflect YANMAR’s deep respect for the Greek maritime industry, which continues to thrive on the global maritime and trade stage.
These three values embody the true spirit of the Greek Office — a legacy established by Mr Yasufumi Ueyama, who founded the office 25 years ago with passion and persistence and now leads YANMAR Engineering Co., Ltd. globally. His career journey stands as a symbol of the long-standing bond between YANMAR and the Greek shipping community.
The true value and importance of YANMAR’s Greek Office lie in the high-quality after-sales service, technical expertise, and engineering excellence it has provided for more than 25 years — the essential “software” supporting YANMAR’s engines, which are the “hardware”, as Mr Ueyama noted during his address:
“As you know, even the most advanced computer cannot function without software. The same applies to engines: they cannot maintain high performance without proper operation, technical expertise, and organised maintenance”. Mr Ueyama emphasised that this “software” – the knowledge, dedication, and skill of YANMAR’s Greek team – ensures the continued success of YANMAR engines worldwide. “Your commitment represents the best of both Japanese precision and Greek passion,” he added, underlining the human foundation of the company’s achievements.
The celebration opened with a welcome address by Mr Yorgos Diakoyannis, General Manager of YANMAR Engineering Greece, who expressed heartfelt appreciation to clients, partners, and colleagues for their long-standing collaboration. “Over these 25 years, our Greek Office has grown together with the shipping community; side by side with our loyal customers, partners, and colleagues in Greece, in Japan, and around the world”, said Mr Diakoyannis.
Reinforcing this strong relationship was the presence of the Embassy of Japan in Greece, represented by Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission Mr Takaaki Nemoto, who, in addition to delivering his celebratory speech in fluent Greek, also led a traditional sake toast — a symbolic gesture of friendship and mutual respect.
“Within this quarter of a century, YANMAR has provided engines and related equipment widely appreciated for their efficiency and reliability”, said Mr Nemoto. “By developing sustainable technologies that care for the natural environment, YANMAR continues to build a better future for generations to come”. Mr Nemoto also shared the origin of YANMAR’s name, derived from Oniyanma: a Japanese dragonfly symbolising strength and good harvest, reflecting the company’s determination not only to achieve success, but also to contribute to society and the environment. In addition, Mr Nemoto noted that YANMAR has taken an active role in environmental protection. By developing sustainable technologies that prioritise care for the natural environment, the company continues to work towards building a better future for generations to come; an effort he expressed deep respect for. In this context, the representative of the Embassy of Japan in Greece emphasised that YANMAR has supplied more than 5,700 engines to Greek vessels and, thus, nearly one-third of the Greek fleet rely on YANMAR power, standing as a testament of mutual trust between the two countries.
The true respect and appreciation of YANMAR for the Greek shipping community were further underlined by the presence of Mr Masaru Hirose, President and Representative Director of YANMAR Power Solutions Co., Ltd., who delivered the Keynote Speech of the evening. In his address, Mr Hirose expressed YANMAR’s deep gratitude to the Greek market for its long-standing trust and partnership, and presented YANMAR’s global direction and its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and carbon neutrality.
Mr Hirose also outlined the company’s strategy for developing advanced engine technologies and alternative fuel solutions that will drive the maritime industry’s sustainable transformation. He further announced the company’s latest structural developments, including the establishment of YANMAR Power Solutions, which will oversee large marine propulsion and auxiliary engines, as well as engines for land-use power generation applications.
The event included two technical presentations, showcasing YANMAR’s leading-edge research and engineering excellence:
● “Powering the Future of Maritime: YANMAR’s Alternative Fuel Solutions” by Mr Yuji Morikawa, Application Engineering Division, YANMAR Power Solutions Co., Ltd.
● “Maintaining Engine Efficiency: YANMAR’s Physical & Digital After-Sales Solutions” by Mr Naoki Kado, Chief of Service Group, YANMAR Engineering Co., Ltd.
These sessions highlighted YANMAR’s and YANMAR Engineering’s progress in developing alternative fuels, integrated maintenance systems, and digital tools such as SHIPSWEB and SMART-LiNK, which enhance operational efficiency and sustainability for ship operators worldwide.
The event, moderated by Mr Alexandros Iliopoulos, Technical Manager of YANMAR Engineering Greece, gathered distinguished guests, including principals, partners, clients, and representatives of the Greek shipping industry, along with executives from YANMAR Power Solutions, YANMAR Engineering and YANMAR Europe to honour this landmark anniversary.
The formal program concluded with a lively cocktail reception and a musical performance by Mr Dimitris Vassilakis and his jazz band, providing an elegant setting for networking, discussion, and celebration, accompanied by Japanese and Greek dishes and drinks.
Source: Yanmar
