The origin of the name Yamaha is the surname of the company's founder, Yamaha (Yamaha) Tonan. Familiar with Western science and technology from a young age, Yamaha initially repaired medical equipment and also repaired organs, eventually leading to the birth of the Yamaha brand. Out of confidence in his career prospects, Yamaha overcame all difficulties and founded the Yamaha Organ Company. With a motivated, far-sighted and decisive style, Yamaha finally achieved success. These laid the foundation of the Yamaha brand and are also an important spiritual wealth of today’s Yamaha Group.

Tuning fork logo

The three crossed tuning fork shapes of the Yamaha logo represent the partnership between the company's three pillars - technology, products and sales, and the circle means that the company is The never-ending vitality in the world of vocal music. This logo also symbolizes the three basic elements of music: melody, rhythm and harmony.

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1898

The image of a phoenix holding a tuning fork was designated as the trademark of the newly established Nippon Musical Instrument Company.

Enlarge image

1927

Trademark with tuning fork and Yamaha logo.

Enlargement

1934

A trademark widely used in newspaper advertisements and catalogs.

Enlarged image

1937

Trademark filed by Yamaha Organ Company.

Enlarged image

1937

Trademark filed by Yamaha Piano Company.

1937

A trademark with only the tuning fork logo.

Enlarged pattern

1956

A trademark applied for musical instruments.

1959

A trademark applied for musical instruments.

1964

Motorcycle trademark.

1967

Standardized logotype introduced; highlight format designated as the universal format of choice.

1980

The 1967 reverse-white format was designated as the standardized logo.

1987

A logo used for company logos.

1998

Currently designated standard and alternative versions with the tuning fork mark.

Yamaha Logo

The Yamaha logo, which combines the Yamaha logo and a tuning fork, was adopted in 1967, which was in line with the original intention of standardizing the tuning fork logo. Yamaha has used various styles of logos over the years, with the current one being the one designated in 1998.

1967

Specified Yamaha logo.

1980

The logo was updated, and the standard layout was simple lines.

1987

To commemorate the company's 100th anniversary, the company was renamed Yamaha Group. To emphasize the Yamaha name, the tuning fork part was deleted.

1998

Specified as standard and alternative versions of the current Yamaha logo.

Yamaha History

1887

Torakusu Yamaha successfully produced the first organ and received many orders from the beginning.

1897

Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. was established, with Yamaha Tonan as its first president.

Completed its first overseas order: 78 organs exported to South Asia.

1900

The production of upright pianos begins.

1902

The first large piano is produced.

1903

Using its wood processing experience, it began to make fine furniture.

1904

Yamaha pianos were highly praised by participants at the World Trade Fair in Saint Louis.

1914

The first harmonica was launched. A year later Yamaha harmonicas were exported around the world.

1922

Began producing hand-cranked phonographs.

1930

Established the world's first audio research laboratory.

1931

Designed the acoustics for Japan’s new parliament hall.

1932

Mass production of pipe organs begins.

1935

The Magna organ is introduced.

1942

Produced the first acoustic guitar.

1951

The Yamaha Corporation Building was completed in Ginza, Tokyo.

1953

President Genichi Kawakami begins his first overseas inspection.

1954

The music education system was established.

Produced the first Hi-Fi player.

The company's experts used metallurgical technology to create Yamaha's first motorcycle: the YA-1. First year product: 125cc motorcycle.

1955

With the successful development of Yamaha motorcycles, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was established.

1958

The first overseas subsidiary was established in Mexico (Yamaha de Mexico S.A.).

1959

The Technology Research Institute was established.

Developed the first electronic organ, the electronic organ.

Yamaha has leveraged its expertise in materials to assemble a production line of equipment for reinforced glass structures.

1960

Yamaha International Corporation was established in the United States.

1961

With the successful use of archery equipment, the first FRP skis were developed and sold, and the company diversified into the production and sales of alloy products.

1962

Yamaha Entertainment Co., Ltd. was established.

1964

The first electronic keyboard competition was successfully held.

1965

Start producing wind instruments.

The first overseas Yamaha Music Academy was established in Los Angeles, USA.

1966

Yamaha expanded its business in Europe and subsequently established Yamaha Europa G.m.b.H in West Germany.

The Yamaha Music Foundation was established.

Began selling guitars and drums.

Yamaha music academies were established in Mexico, Canada, and Thailand.

1967

Nemu-no-Sato is built, the only resort that combines entertainment and music.

Developed the CF platform grand piano.

1968

Yamaha produces the first Hi-Fi stereo equipment.

1969

Sviatoslav Richter brought the CF grand piano to Italy for a performance tour.

1970

The first World Pop Music Festival was held in Tokyo.

1971

Start producing semiconductor products.

1972

Hosted the first children's composition presentation.

Yamaha cooperated with the Vienna Orchestra to successfully develop a new organ.

1974

Yamaha developed the 1000 nanosecond beryllium diaphragm speaker (NS-1000M), the first synthesizer CSY-1 and the mixing console PM-100.

Opened Tsumagoi Resort with music and sports themes.

In West Germany, Yamaha held a presentation of children's compositions for the first time outside of Japan.

1975

Yamaha Sports Equipment Factory launches a variety of tennis rackets.

Start the original production and sale of high-quality furniture.

1976

Start producing electronic products and electronic keyboards.

1977

Established wind instrument studio in Tokyo.

1978

Wind instrument studio established in Hamburg.

1980

The Piano Technology Research Institute was established in Tokyo.

Began selling portable keyboards.

1982

Developed and sold golf clubs made of composite materials.

Introducing compact CD-1 discs.

The first digital piano is launched.

1983

Yamaha produces and sells electronic keyboards (Clavinova) and DX-7 digital synthesizers (Synthesizer).

Launched the CF grand piano.

Start producing LSIs customized products.

1984

The first automated industrial robot was produced by integrating a variety of professional technologies.

1985

Yamaha Film Studio was founded in Tokyo.

1986

Yamaha digital sound field processor DSP-1 was born.

Established a wind instrument studio in Vienna.

1987

Opened Piano Artists Service Center (C.E.A.A.) in Paris.

Established a film studio in London.

In Tokyo, Yamaha established the first Band Explosion World Final.

On the 100th anniversary of its founding, the company was renamed Yamaha Co., Ltd.

1989

The Museum of Modern Art in New York collects Yamaha's wind instruments and Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controller WX7.

Introduced the first CD recorder.

1990

A sample showroom is opened in former East Berlin.

1991

Yamaha's total production of pianos and wind instruments both exceeded five million units.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Children's Composition Presentation Conference.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York has collected Yamaha’s Active Servo Processing Speaker YST-SD 90.

1992

Fin Christian Jagge (Norway) won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Albertville with the PROTO-SL ski sled.

Yamaha received a letter of commendation from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kemble & Company (UK) won the Queen's Award for Outstanding External Achievement.

1993

Manufactured the world’s first titanium alloy golf club.

Began sales of silent pianos, VL1 and VP1 virtual sound synthesizers, CD burners CDE-100 and CDE-100H10.

1994

Began selling the Grand Piano Silent Series.

1995

Began selling digital pianos (the Silent Brass System and the GranTouch).

1996

The highest-end model of electronic drums, the DTX Silent Session Drum, was released.

1997

Yamaha Kagoshima Semiconductor Equipment passed ISO14001 certification.

Stanford University and Yamaha announce the Sondius-XG joint licensing program.

Internet MIDI Live was first proposed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Introducing Silent Violin.

1998

Kakegawa Piano Factory and Yamaha Electronics Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd passed ISO14001 certification.

Denis Matsuev played the CFIIIS grand piano for the first time at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

Began selling Silent Cello.

A variety of specialized technologies have been combined to produce a digital sound field processor - a standard home theater system.

1999

Yamaha’s Metanix Inc and Saitama Brass plants passed ISO14001 certification.

Began selling multimedia audio systems for computers.

2000

Yamaha begins licensing activities for new digital network interface technology (mLAN).

Launched Mobile Phone ringback tone service in Japan and Taiwan.

To celebrate Yamaha’s 100th anniversary of piano manufacturing, Yamaha has carefully crafted a commemorative piano.

Established a record company - Yamaha Music Communications Co., Ltd.

2001

Established an audio-visual product sales subsidiary in Shanghai.

All Yamaha production bases are ISO14001 certified.

Established a musical instrument sales subsidiary in South Korea.

Launched a Silent Guitar.

2002

The archery equipment business was terminated.

Began selling Silent Viola.

Yamaha begins selling electronic violin (Elecrtic Violin).

Establish an investment holding company in China.

Established an AV/IT production company - Yamaha Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. in Suzhou, China.

Established holding company in Europe.

2003

Launched "Vocaloid" digital sound synthesis technology.

Established a musical instrument production subsidiary in China.

Exit the CD-R/RW business.