History

[Main visual] History

Yamaha's history began when its founder, Torakusu Yamaha, repaired a broken reed organ in 1887. Shortly thereafter, he successfully completed the first reed organ.

Corporate Profile Video

The Origin and History of the Yamaha Brand

1887

Founding Period

1887

Birth of the Yamaha Brand

Torakusu Yamaha repaired an organ at an elementary school in Hamamatsu, and he succeeded in producing an organ in the same year.
The Yamaha brand trademark "Yamaha" is derived from the name of the company's founder, Torakusu Yamaha, who was a pioneer in the manufacture of Western-style musical instruments.

[Image] Torakusu Yamaha

1889

Establishes Yamaha Fukin Seizoujo (currently Yamaha Corporation)

1897

Establishes Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. (currently Yamaha Corporation)

[Photo] Establishes Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd.

1898

Birth of the Logo

The year after the establishment of Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., the "tuning fork" was established as the corporate mark and the "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.

[Image] Birth of the Logo

1900

Begins production of upright pianos

[Photo] piano

1949

Lists on Tokyo Stock Exchange

Around 1950

Spreading Music Culture and Taking on New Business Challenges, and Going Overseas as a Comprehensive Musical Instrument Manufacturer

1954

Opens a school that was the predecessor of Yamaha Music School

Produces its first audio product (HiFi player)

1955

Launches motorcycle YA-1
Establishes Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (splits off motorcycle division)

[Photo] Launches motorcycle YA-1

1958

Establishes sales subsidiary Yamaha de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico

[Photo] Yamaha de Mexico

1959

Begins production of sports equipment (FRP Archery)

Begins production of electronic organs (Electone™)

1960

Establishes subsidiary in United States, Yamaha International Corporation (currently Yamaha Corporation of America)

1962

Begins recreation business

1964

Begins production of lifestyle-related products (FRP bathtub)

  • Transfer of shares in living business subsidiary in 2010

1966

Begins production of wind instruments

Establishes Yamaha Music Foundation (becomes general incorporated foundation in 2011)

Expands into Europe with founding of Yamaha Europa GmbH in former West Germany

1968

Issues shares at market price (the first such issuance in Japan)

Around 1970

Evolution of Technology and Creation of New Value

1969

Launches Vocal Amplifier System (PA equipment)

1972

Begins production of semiconductors
*Transitions to fabless manufacturing in 2015

1980

Establishes Yamaha Piano Technical Academy, a piano tuner training school

1982

Launches golf clubs

1987

Changes corporate name from Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. to Yamaha Corporation to mark 100th year in business

Opens Yamaha English-language school

1989

Establishes subsidiary in China, Tianjin Yamaha Electronic Musical Instruments, Inc., for manufacture and sale of digital musical instruments

1995

Launches remote router

Around 2000

Providing Value Unique to the Yamaha Group through Businesses Centered on Sound and Music

2002

Establishes Yamaha Music & Electronics (China) Co., Ltd.

Establishes Yamaha Music Holding Europe GmbH in Germany (currently Yamaha Music Europe GmbH)

2005

Acquires German audio software house Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

[Logo] Steinberg

2007

Establishes music entertainment business holding company

2008

Acquires Austrian piano manufacturer L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH

[Logo] Bösendorfer

Acquires French loudspeaker manufacturer NEXO S.A.

[Logo] NEXO

2010

Completes integration of Japanese piano factories into Kakegawa plant

2014

Acquires U.S. musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturer Line 6, Inc. (currently Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc.*)
*Acquires the Ampeg brand in 2018 and Córdoba Music Group, LLC in 2023

[Logo] Line 6(現ヤマハ・ギター・グループ)

Acquires U.S. provider of wireless audio solutions Revolabs, Inc. (currently Yamaha Unified Communications, Inc.)

[Logo] Revolabs (currently Yamaha Unified Communications, Inc.)

2018

Opens R&D facility “Innovation Center”

2021

Reopens the flagship “Yamaha Ginza Shop” as an experience-oriented brand shop

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