About Yamaha

Yamaha Corporation came into being on October 1, 1987 after its predecessor Nippon Gakki Company Limited changed its official name. That change marked the anniversary of the day that Torakusu Yamaha (April 20 1851 – August 8 1916) established his business, prompted by his repair of a reed organ. Our trademark, “Yamaha” has its origins in the name of our founder.

Torakusu Yamaha was born a retainer of the Tokugawa family in the Kishu region (currently Wakayama prefecture), the third son of astronomer Kounosuke Yamaha. After a childhood spent playing with the tools and instruments of his father while watching him work Torakusu was fascinated by machinery.

Proving skilled with his hands he went on to study watch-making in Nagasaki. While there he turned his hand to medical appliances, and in 1884 began visiting hospitals in Hamamatsu to repair medical equipment. In 1887 Torakusu was successful in repairing a reed organ at Hamamatsu’s Jinjo elementary school (currently Motoshiro Elementary school), and in 1889 established Yamaha Organ Works as a limited partnership in Hamamatsu. He went on to found Nippon Gakki Company Limited on October 12 1897, becoming the first president of the company.