History of Logo

In 1898, one year after the establishment of Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., forerunner of today's Yamaha Corporation, the Company decided to use a tuning fork as the corporate mark, and a design featuring a "Chinese phoenix holding a tuning fork in its mouth" as the trademark. After undergoing a variety of changes paralleling the growth of the Company, the tuning fork mark and the Yamaha Logo was finally standardized.

About the Tuning Fork Mark

A tuning fork is a tool for tuning musical instruments. It was invented by a trumpet player named John Shore (1662-1751). The tuning fork is composed of a handle attached to the center of a U-shaped steel rod. By striking the rod, sound is created, and the frequency of the resulting vibrations per second is used as a standard for tuning a musical instrument. The three tuning forks of the Yamaha Logo represent the cooperative relationship that links the three pillars of our business -- technology, production, and sales. They also evoke the robust vitality that has forged our reputation for sound and music the world over, a territory signified by the enclosing circle. The mark also symbolizes the three essential musical elements: melody, harmony, and rhythm.

Changes in the Tuning Fork Mark

[ Image ] "Ho-oh" (Chinese phoenix) holding a tuning fork in its mouth

1898

This is the design with a "Ho-oh" (Chinese phoenix) holding a tuning fork in its mouth, which was established as the trademark in 1898, one year after Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. was established.
The mark was known for being used on top quality organs, which illustrates how the Founder always aimed to create world-class products.

[ Image ] A trademark application for tuning forks alone.

1916

A trademark application for tuning forks alone.

[ Image ] A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on organs.

1916

A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on organs.

[ Image ] A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on pianos.

1916

A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on pianos.

[ Image ] A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork and Yamaha Veneer mark.

1927

A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork and Yamaha Veneer mark.

[ Image ] A design widely used in products, newspaper, advertising and catalogs.

1934

A design widely used in products, newspaper, advertising and catalogs.

[ Image ] A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.

1956

A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.

[ Image ] A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.

1959

A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.

[ Image ]Standardization of the range of marks in use during this period.

1967

Standardization of the range of marks in use during this period. The current White Text Type was established as a "reverse design."

[ Image ] The "reverse design" of 1967 was established as the mark's standard version.

1980

The "reverse design" of 1967 was established as the mark's standard version.

[ Image ] The Standard and special versions of the tuning fork marks were established.

1998

The Standard and special versions of the tuning fork marks were established.

[ Image ] Unify the tuning fork marks.

2016

Unify the tuning fork marks.

Changes in Yamaha Logo

[ Image ] The Yamaha Logo was established.

1967

The Yamaha Logo was established. (A mark similar to the current special version of the logo was also used as a 'reverse design'.)

[ Image ] The Yamaha Logo was revised.

1980

The Yamaha Logo was revised. A design using simple lines (the current special version of the logo) was established as the standard version of the logo.

[ Image ] The Company changed its name to Yamaha Corporation to mark the 100th anniversary of its founding.

1987

The Company changed its name to Yamaha Corporation to mark the 100th anniversary of its founding. Removed the tuning forks mark and emphasized "Yamaha."

[ Image ] The Standard version of the Yamaha Logo (upper line) and special version (bottom line) were established.

1998

The Standard version of the Yamaha Logo (upper line) and special version (bottom line) were established.

[ Image ] Unify the Yamaha Logo.

2016

Unify the Yamaha Logo.

Are there any differences between the Yamaha Logo and that of Yamaha Motor?

The biggest difference is that logo of Yamaha Corporation is colored in violet, its corporate color, while that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, its sister company, uses red.

Yamaha Corporation uses a Yamaha Logomark with the tips of the tuning forks contained within a circle, and features "YAMAHA" printed in an asymmetric font, with an "M" with a middle column shorter than the outer legs, while that of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd has the tips of the tuning forks in Yamaha Logo extended outside a circle, and uses symmetrical font, with an "M" of all the legs same size.

[ Image ] Yamaha Corporation

Yamaha Corporation

[ Image ] Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.