The Kaientai (海援隊, Kaientai, "Maritime Support Force") was a trading and shipping
company and private
navy, considered to be the first
corporation in
modern Japan.
Kaientai, originally named Kameyama Shachū (亀山社中, "Kameyama Troupe"), was founded by
Sakamoto Ryōma in
Nagasaki in 1865 during the
Bakumatsu, and it was initially funded by the
Satsuma Domain and other groups and domains.
The logo of
SoftBank Group is based on the idea of a "21st century Kaientai".[1]