For the record, Miramar gives 5026437 as IMO number with the same description as 3SX gave for the history of the ship.

Hi Dedge, my pleasure... if a little belated!
Regards, Rick

Thanks Rick for the information which means I can get out of this large hole I have dug searching for an 'obviously Japanese-built' ship named Asakasan Maru.

Hmm, nice pic Paul.
At first glance, I thought that it did not appear to be a Wilhelmsen styled vessel from 1937, but more like a 1950's 'original' Mitsui built ship.
After a little digging around I found that it was a 50/50 vessel.
Built by Kockums, in Wilhemsen's split accommodation style, she caught fire on 12/05/1950 and was subsequently abandoned by her crew and passengers about 80 nautical miles from Shimizu, Japan.
Subsequently sold to Mitsui who comprehensively rebuilt the ship - hence her contemporary Japanese 1950's look!

With acknowledgement & thanks to Norseskip website:
http://norskeskip.no/talisman37.htm
Interesting, and surely unique?
Regards, Rick

Has a very high accommodation block for cargo ships built those years (5-tiers).

LR/ imo 5502643

1937 blt as TALISMAN
by Kockums (Malmo, SWE) y/n 199

51 ASAKASAN MARU - 66 CHUN AN - 68 TIEN HO

BU Osaka 23.6.1969