Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) is a leading Japanese upstream company engaged in oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) activities both in Japan and overseas. Its main operating areas are Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata and Niigata in Japan. Overseas, JAPEX is active in Canada, Indonesia, Libya, Iraq and other regions where it has offshore interests. JAPEX was founded in December 1955 as a special-purpose company through a government initiative and has continued to explore and produce oil and natural gas in Japan while expanding its activities overseas. Between 1967 and 1970, JAPEX was incorporated into the Japan Petroleum Development Corporation (JPDC) as its E&P operating body. Thereafter, JAPEX was separated and re-established as a privatesector company under the former Commercial Code in April 1970. JAPEX listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2003.