The Tuning Fork Logo
The three intersecting tuning fork shapes of the Yamaha logo represent the partnership between the company's three pillars - technology, products and sales - while the circle signifies the company's never-ending vitality in the world of acoustic music. The logo also symbolizes the three fundamental musical elements: melody, rhythm and harmony.
Enlarged design
1898
The design of a phoenix holding a tuning fork was designated as the trademark of the newly established Nippon Musical Instrument Company.
Enlarged design
1927
The trademark with a tuning fork and Yamaha's sign language.
Enlarged design
1934
The trademark widely used in newspaper advertisements and catalog books.
Enlarged design
1937
The trademark applied for by the Yamaha Organ Company.
Enlarged design
1937
The trademark applied for by the Yamaha Piano Company.
1937
The trademark with only the tuning fork logo.
Enlarged design
1956
Trademark filed for musical instruments.
1959
Trademark filed for musical instruments.
1964
Trademark for motorcycles.
1967
Introduction of standardized logos; reverse-white format designated as the universal choice layout.
1980
1967
The anti-white format was designated as the standardized logo.
1987
The logo used for company logos.
1998
Current designation of the standardized and alternative versions of the tuning fork logo.
Yamaha Logo
The Yamaha logo, which combines the Yamaha logotype and the tuning fork, was adopted in 1967, in keeping with the original intent of standardizing the tuning fork logo. Yamaha has used various styles of logos over the years, and currently uses the Yamaha logo designated in 1998.
1967
Designated Yamaha logo.
1980
The logo was updated and the standard layout was simple lines.
1987
To commemorate the centennial of the company's founding, the name was changed to Yamaha Group. The tuning fork was removed to emphasize the Yamaha name.
1998
Designated as the standard and alternative version of the current Yamaha logo.
Yamaha History
1887
Torakusu Yamaha succeeded in making the first organ and received many orders from the start.
1897
Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. is established, with Torakusu Yamaha as its first president.
Completes its first overseas order: 78 organs are exported to South Asia.
1900
Started production of upright pianos.
1902
Production of the first grand piano.
1903
With its experience in woodworking begins to make fine furniture.
1904
Yamaha's pianos are highly rated by participants at the World St. Louis Fair.
1914
The first harmonica is introduced. A year later Yamaha harmonica is exported all over the world.
1922
Started production of hand-cranked phonographs.
1930
Foundation of the world's first sound laboratory.
1931
Designs the sound for Japan's new Parliament Hall.
1932
Started mass production of pipe organs.
1935
Launches the Magna organ.
1942
Production of the first acoustic guitar.
1951
Yamaha's corporate building is completed in Ginza, Tokyo.
1953
President Genichi Kawakami embarks on his first foreign tour.
1954
A music education system is established.
The first Hi-Fi player is produced.
Company specialists utilized metallurgical technology to produce Yamaha's first motorcycle: the YA-1. first year's product: a 125cc motorcycle.
1955
With the development of the Yamaha motorcycle, Yamaha Motor Co.
1958
The first overseas subsidiary was established in Mexico (Yamaha de Mexico S.A.).
1959
The Technical Research Institute is established.
The first electronic pipe organ, the electric piano, is developed.
Yamaha utilized its expertise in materials to assemble a line of equipment with reinforced glass construction.
1960
Yamaha International Corporation is established in the United States.
1961
With the successful use of archery equipment, the first FRP ski sled is developed and marketed, and production and sales of alloy products are diversified.
1962
Yamaha Entertainment Ltd. is established.
1964
Successfully organizes the first electric piano competition.
1965
Started production of wind instruments.
The first overseas Yamaha Music Academy is established in Los Angeles, USA.
1966
Yamaha expands its European operations and with it creates Yamaha Europa G.m.b.H in West Germany.
The Yamaha Music Foundation is established.
Started selling guitars and drums.
Yamaha Music Academies are established in Mexico, Canada, and Thailand.
1967
Built Nemu-no-Sato, the only resort that combines entertainment and music.
The CF platform grand piano is developed.
1968
Yamaha produces the first Hi-Fi stereo equipment.
1969
Sviatoslav Richter takes the CF platform grand piano on tour to Italy.
1970
The first World Pop Festival is held in Tokyo.
1971
Started production of semiconductor products.
1972
Hosted the first Children's Songwriting Release.
Yamaha and the Vienna Orchestra collaborated to develop a new organ.
1974
Yamaha developed the 1,000-nanosecond beryllium membrane loudspeaker (NS-1000M), the first synthesizer, the CSY-1, and the mixing console, the PM-100.
Opened the Tsumagoi Resort, a resort featuring music and sports.
In West Germany, Yamaha held the first release of children's compositions outside Japan.
1975
Yamaha Sports Equipment Factory introduces a variety of tennis rackets.
Started original production and sales of fine furniture.
1976
Begins production of electronic products and electronic organs.
1977
Established Wind Instrument Studio in Tokyo.
1978
Established wind instrument studio in Hamburg.
1980
Piano Technology Institute established in Tokyo.
Start of sales of portable keyboards.
1982
Develops and sells golf clubs made of composite materials.
Introduces the intensive CD-1 compact disk.
The first digital piano is introduced.
1983
Yamaha produces and sells the electronic piano (Clavinova) and the DX-7 digital synthesizer (Synthesizer).
Launches the CF grand platform piano.
Begins production of customized LSIs.
1984
Produces the first automated industrial robot by combining a variety of specialized technologies.
1985
Yamaha Film Studios is founded in Tokyo.
1986
Yamaha's digital sound field processor, the DSP-1, is born.
Wind instrument studio is established in Vienna.
1987
Opening of the Center for Piano Artists (C.E.A.A.) in Paris.
Foundation of a movie studio in London.
In Tokyo, Yamaha launches the first Band Explosion World Final.
On the 100th anniversary of its founding, the company is renamed Yamaha Corporation.
1989
The Museum of Modern Art in New York collects Yamaha's wind instrument, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controller WX7.
The first CD recorder is introduced.
1990
A sample showroom opens in the former East Berlin.
1991
Total production of both Yamaha pianos and wind instruments exceeds five million units.
Celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Children's Songwriting Society.
Yamaha's Active Servo Processing Speaker, the YST-SD 90, is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
1992
Fin Christian Jagge (Norway) won the first prize at the Albertville Winter Olympics with the YST-SD 90, and the YST-SD 90, the YST-SD 90, was awarded the prize. Albertville Winter Olympics, where he won a gold medal with the PROTO-SL ski sled.
Yamaha receives a letter of commendation from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kemble & Company (UK) receives the Queen's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Foreign Affairs.
1993
The world's first titanium golf club is manufactured.
Start of sales of the Silent Piano, the VL1 and VP1 virtual sound synthesizers, the CD recorders CDE-100 and CDE-100H10.
1994
Start of sales of the Grand Piano Silent Series.
1995
Started sales of digital pianos (the Silent Brass System and the GranTouch).
1996
Releases the DTX Silent Session Drum, the top-of-the-line model of electronic drums.
1997
Yamaha Kagoshima Semiconductor Devices receives ISO14001 certification.
Stanford University and Yamaha announce the Sondius-XG joint licensing program.
Ryuichi Sakamoto proposes Internet MIDI Live for the first time.
Silent Violin is introduced.
1998
Kakegawa Piano Factory and Yamaha Electronics Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. receive ISO14001 certification.
Denis Matsuev makes his debut on the CFIIIS Grand Platform Piano at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.
Started sales of Silent Cello grand pianos.
Combines various specialized technologies to produce the Digital Sound Field Processor - a standard home theater system.
1999
Yamaha's Pandan metal factories, Yamaha Metanix Inc and Saitama Brass, were certified to ISO14001.
Started sales of multimedia audio systems for computers.
2000
Yamaha begins licensing activities for new digital network interface technology (mLAN).
Launches Mobile Phone color ringtone business for cell phones in Japan and Taiwan.
Yamaha crafts a commemorative piano to celebrate 100 years of Yamaha piano manufacturing.
Yamaha Music Communications Co., Ltd. is established as a record label.
2001
An audio-visual products sales subsidiary is established in Shanghai.
All Yamaha production sites are ISO14001 certified.
Founded musical instrument sales subsidiary in Korea.
Launches a Silent Guitar.
2002
Ended archery equipment business.
Starts selling the Silent Viola.
Yamaha begins sales of the Elecrtic Violin.
Establishes an investment holding company in China.
Yamaha Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is established as an AV/IT manufacturing company in Suzhou, China.
Establishes holding company in Europe.
2003
Launches "Vocaloid" digital sound synthesis technology.
Establishes a musical instrument manufacturing subsidiary in China.
Exits the CD-R/RW business.