Initiated with the former Kagoshima College of Technology in April 1945, the department was organized into Faculty of Engineering, the former Kagoshima Prefecture University in April, 1949. In July 1955, the department joined the current national Kagoshima University and had opened her first master course, Mechanical Engineering Course, in 1959. Then,the department developed into two independent departments in 1963 and five years later, two new master courses (Mechanical Engineering Courses I and II) were established to replace the existed Mechanical Engineering Course.

In the days of the Kagoshima Prefecture University, our department executed a Subject System and was consisted of four subjects: Materials and Materials Mechanics, Heat and Thermo Engines, Fluid and a Fluidic Machinary, and Design and Manufacture of Machines. With the development of the second Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1963, the previous 4-Subject system was reviewed and extended into 8-Subject system such as Materials Mechanics, Steamy Engineering, Hydraulic Power Engineering and Materials Manufacturing in the department of Mechanical Engineering; Materials Engineering, Internal-Combustion Engines Engineering, Fluidic Engineering and Precision Engineering in the second department of Mechanical Engineering.

In 1992, the two mechanical engineering departments were merged with the quota of students increased to 100. In the meantime, the former 8-Subject system was replaced by the new 3-Chair system: Production Engineering, Energy Engineering and Mechanical System Engineering. From 1994, doctor degree course was started and the 3-Chair system was reorganized into the current 2-Chair system: Design and Production System Engineering, and Energy and Systems Engineering. Up to date of March 2003, more than 3,700 students have been graduated from our department.