The group holding company was incorporated in BVI, Year 2001, as Universal Petroleum International (Vietnam) Holding Co Ltd (Investment capital: US$15,000,000).
The name was later changed to Universal Petroleum International (Japan) Holding Co Ltd in the Year 2006.

MASAMICHI TOKAI
Chairman, Universal Petroleum International Group
CEO and President, UPI Investment Limited

Masamichi Tokai was born on 10 May 1951. He was brought up in Japan and graduated from the law faculty of the Japan Law University. Upon graduation, he started a career with TATSUMI MARINE (1983 to 1986) as a business development executive in a Japanese shipping company; he developed business opportunities for the company in the chemical industry. He was engaged by TOGEN OIL & CHEMICALS (1986 to 1988) and traded oil and chemical products in China, Korea and Japan. The sales of Chinese Naptha and Crude Oil to Korea as the first pioneering trader is one of several outstanding achievements.

Having acquired a deeper understanding about East Asia’s petroleum industry, Masamichi Tokai was driven to assimilate himself with the language and culture of Indonesia. He studied in the UNIVERSITY OF INDONESIA for one year (1988 to 1989) just to learn and understand the culture and language of the Indonesian people. Upon completion of his studies, development opportunities in Malaysia led him to move to Malaysia, where he incorporated Tokai Petroleum. It was during this period where he made a joint venture cooperation with VICO COMPANY. Cooperation with Vico, opened doors to business opportunities in Vietnam, where Masamichi Tokai co-operated with Vico in the packaging of fertilizer at the Saigon Port. In due time, Masamichi Tokai, entered into the distribution of LPG for home, automobile and industrial use. He incorporated UP VIETNAM (Year 2001) to execute the said LPG distribution business. He successful built several LPG distribution infrastructures in Ho Chi Minh city and a LPG bottling and Automobile conversion factory in Binh Duong province. UNIVERSAL PETROLEUM INTERNATIONAL (JAPAN) HOLDING CO LTD to reflect the international character of his business endeavors. In 2010, he entered into long-term supply MOUs with customers for the supply of LNG in South Asia and South East Asia. Presently, Masamichi Tokai is developing business opportunities in the trading of petroleum products such as crude oil, LNG, LPG, D2 and JP54.