 Four years later in 1918, Nishizono Ironworks, a factory in Uchibori, Mie Prefecture began producing ball bearings.Five years after Nishizono Ironworks began its production of these friction reducing components, the company merged with Tomoe Trading to fabricate and market them under the name "NTN".In 1927, however, Nishizono and Tomoe split, with the former company setting up a new company called "NTN Manufacturing Company".