Abstract

In June 2025, after nearly 18 months of intense negotiations with the U.S. government and fierce battles with rival manufacturers, Nippon Steel achieved what many thought impossible: the acquisition of U.S. Steel for a staggering $15 billion. “The Rebirth of Nippon Steel” is a riveting account of the dramatic transformation of Japan’s steel industry champion and the bold moves that reshaped its future.
Just five years ago, Nippon Steel was grappling with the largest financial loss in its history, teetering on the brink of crisis. Yet under the remarkable leadership of CEO Eiji Hashimoto, the company turned the tide, achieving record-breaking profits in just three years. Banked on this swift success, Hashimoto and his team doubled down on scaling their operations globally, gearing up to compete in the challenging U.S. market.
Who is Eiji Hashimoto, the visionary CEO behind this dramatic revival? What unique strategies allowed Nippon Steel to rise from the ashes and set its sights on U.S. Steel? How did the company adapt to shifting global trade policies and create a business model capable of surviving in an increasingly protectionist world? This book answers these compelling questions and more, offering readers unparalleled insight into Nippon Steel’s journey from struggle to triumph.
By the end, you’ll not only understand the motivations behind the monumental U.S. Steel acquisition, but you’ll also gain deeper insights into the leadership, resilience, and forward-thinking strategies that turned a struggling company into a global powerhouse. Perfect for business professionals, industry experts, and readers fascinated by tales of corporate reinvention, “The Rebirth of Nippon Steel” is more than a business book—it’s a blueprint for transformation in the modern age.

Author’s Information

Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Nikkei Business, Uesaka was born in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture in 1976. He graduated from Ritsumeikan University in 2001 with a degree in industrial sociology and joined Nikkei Inc. He initially worked in the Social Affairs Department before joining the Industry Department (now the Business Reporting Unit) in 2008. Primarily involved in reporting on corporations, including machinery, materials, energy, and trading companies, Since 2005, he has been working at the desk of Nikkei Keizai Shimbun Inc.since 2017, and has held his current position since 20092021 where. H he has is once again primarily been in charge of reporting on the manufacturing industry, including machinery and materials. His column, titled "Yoshifumi Uesaka's Monozukuri Kingdom," is regularly featured in the Nikkei Business Daily.