Our History
The Yamaha Group is steadily expanding its business operations guided by its corporate philosophy which continues
to be upheld to this day. Drawing upon the accumulated unique Yamaha qualities that Yamaha has cultivated in its
130-year history, Yamaha will continue to create products and services that contribute to the development of musical
culture and the enrichment of society. In this way, Yamaha will continue on its path for growth.
Before the 1930s 1940 to 1980s
1887 •Company founder Torakusu Yamaha repairs 1949 •Lists on Tokyo Stock Exchange
elementary school’s reed organ and successfully
builds his first reed organ 1954 •Establishes Yamaha Music School and holds
pilot classes
1889 •Establishes Yamaha Fukin Seizoujo 2
(currently Yamaha Corporation)
1890 •Establishes organ factory at its headquarters •Produces its first audio product (HiFi player)
1897 •Establishes Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. 3
(currently Yamaha Corporation)
•Begins production of motorcycles
1900 •Begins production of upright pianos
1955 •Establishes Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
(splits off motorcycle division)
1939 •Creates Guiding Principles of Yamaha
1 1958 •Begins production of sports equipment
(fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] archery products)
•Establishes first overseas subsidiary,
Yamaha de México S.A. in Mexico
4
1959 •Begins production of electronic organs
(Electone™)
1960 •Establishes subsidiary in United States,
Yamaha International Corporation
(currently Yamaha Corporation of America)
1962 •Begins recreation business
1 Inheriting the spirit of Yamaha 2 Working to expand the population of music players
The Guiding Principles of Yamaha set out the Company’s expectations for Yamaha decided its mission was not only to sell musical instruments
how each employee should act. Today, the original spirit of Yamaha still but also to bring the joy of playing music to as many people as possible.
remains, embodied in the values upheld by its employees, such as kindness Accordingly, Yamaha took initiatives to expand the population
and sincerity, perseverance, continuous improvement, and of music players.
a commitment to contribute to society.
3 Developing businesses born from a passion for creating sound
By drawing on accumulated technologies and sensitivities associated with
the playing of musical instruments, the Company developed the Yamaha
HiFi player. Its manufacture led to the production of various other prod-
ucts, including pre-main amplifiers and speakers.
106
Management Strategy Growth Foundation Financial Section About Yamaha
1990 to 2017
1965 •Begins production of wind instruments 1993 • B egins sales of SILENT Piano™ 5
1966 •Establishes Yamaha Music Foundation 2002 •
E stablishes Yamaha Music & Electronics
(becomes general incorporated (China) Co., Ltd.
foundation in 2011)
•Establishes Yamaha Music Holding Europe
•Expands into Europe with founding of GmbH in Germany (currently Yamaha Music
Yamaha Europa GmbH in former West Europe GmbH)
Germany
2003 •Establishes a Level 1 American Depositary
1968 •Issues shares at market price (the first Receipt (ADR) program
such issuance in Japan)
2005 •Acquires German audio software house
1971 •Begins production of semiconductors Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH
1980 •Establishes Yamaha Piano Technical 2007 •Establishes music entertainment business
Academy, a piano tuner training school holding company Yamaha Music
Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
1987 •Changes corporate name from Nippon
Gakki Co., Ltd. to Yamaha Corporation to 2008 •Acquires Austrian piano manufacturer
mark 100th year in business L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH
•Opens Yamaha English language school •Acquires French loudspeaker manufacturer
NEXO S.A.
1989 •Establishes subsidiary in China, Tianjin
Yamaha Electronic Musical Instruments, 2010 •Completes integration of Japanese piano
Inc., for manufacture and sale of digital factories into Kakegawa plant
musical instruments
2012 •Completes integration of Japanese wind
instrument factories into Toyooka plant
•Celebrates 125th year in business
2014 •Acquires U.S. musical instrument and audio
equipment manufacturer Line 6, Inc.
•Acquires U.S. provider of wireless audio
solutions Revolabs, Inc.
4 Expanding overseas 5 Melding acoustic and digital technologies
Since the establishment of its first overseas subsidiary in Mexico, Yamaha With the launch of its SILENT Piano in 1993, Yamaha developed numer-
has expanded into the United States, Europe, and the rest of Asia. By pur- ous musical instruments in the SILENT™ series as well as its range of
suing business activities that are attuned to each location, Yamaha suc- hybrid pianos, skillfully melding the traditional technologies of acoustic
cessfully made its way into new markets. musical instrument creation with digital audio technology.
Yamaha Corporation Annual Report 2017 107
