| Yamaha began life in 1887 when Torakusu | | | | automobile spares and accessories he decided |
| Yamaha repaired a school organ and decided to | | | | that motorcycles were the market to pursue. He |
| try starting a business building and selling these | | | | along with some of his managers and engineers |
| musical instruments. Torakusu had always been | | | | visited many motorcycle factories throughout |
| good working with machinery as after training as | | | | Europe and America on fact finding missions |
| a watch maker he worked repairing hospital | | | | before setting up a motorcycle production factory |
| equipment. He founded the Yamaha Organ | | | | to produce their own machines. The first to be |
| Company then built and sold his first reed organ | | | | built was in 1955 a 125cc machine called the YAI |
| and with its success orders for the instrument | | | | and nick named the Akatombo which when |
| started to come in with a substantial export of | | | | translated means the red dragonfly. This was |
| 78 organs to be shipped to Asia in 1892. By 1897 | | | | thoroughly tested including being taken on a |
| the business was expanding and the name was | | | | 10,000km drive to ensure that the machine was |
| changed to the Nippon Gakki Company Limited | | | | reliable and hardy. The same year it was |
| with Torakusu Yamaha its first president. In the | | | | produced it was entered in Japan’s |
| early 1900s they produced quality musical | | | | motorcycle racing competitions and won over |
| instruments and also began to design and make | | | | established manufacturers. This machine proved |
| top quality furniture winning an award in 1904 at | | | | popular and the factory immediately began work |
| the St Louis World Fair for their pianos and | | | | on a larger machine a 175cc motorcycle which |
| organs. The company continued to grow and | | | | would be called the YCI. |
| introduce new products although most were | | | | Genichi was determined to press on fast and in |
| aimed at the music and sound market. 1922 saw | | | | 1958 entered a Japanese built machine in a grand |
| hand operated phonographs produced and | | | | prix race in Catalina in the USA in which it finished |
| research into acoustics was well established | | | | an impressive sixth. Wasting no time he exploited |
| keeping them at the forefront of sound | | | | this recognition by importing motorcycles through |
| technology and manufacturing. | | | | a distributer into the American and European |
| Genichi Kawakami was a 1934 graduate from | | | | markets. The motorcycle proved a success and |
| Takachiho Commercial School and in July 1937 | | | | he expanded into the marine sector in 1960 |
| joined the company and proceeded to work his | | | | looking to produce both engines and build boats |
| way to manager of the musical instruments | | | | using new plastics technologies like fiberglass. |
| factory from there to the general manager. By | | | | Shortly after stepping into the marine sector both |
| the age of 38 in 1950 he became the companies | | | | a boat the CAT-21 and Yamahas first outboard |
| president and this was to be a great turning point | | | | engine the P-7 were produced and the company |
| in the direction of this company. At this point the | | | | is now one of the biggest powerboat and |
| business was doing well and Genichi decided to | | | | outboard motor manufacturers in the world |
| look at other products and foreign markets for | | | | today. |
| the company to diverse into. After looking at | | | | For information on yamaha outboard motors and |
| many products to start designing and | | | | other brands visit the author James Thompson's |
| manufacturing from sewing machines to | | | | site new outboard motors. |