The Japan Lumber Company had a sawmill complex and company town at Japan, between Porter and Pauli, in the 1920s. The dynamo provided lighting and power for the community and lumber facility. J. C. Steadman sold the complex and community to R. O. Harris and M. S. Beach in April, 1923. J. P. Rose, of Liberty County, bought the company from Harris and Beach, and later, in 1927, sold it to John Arthur, of Houston.
Assets included in the sale of 1927 were a boiler, one steam engine, shotgun steam feed, an edger, and a planer.