| 1886 |
Yamaha's history began when its founder, Torakusu Yamaha, repaired a broken reed organ in 1887. Shortly thereafter, he successfully completed the first reed organ. The Yamaha brand trademark "Yamaha" is derived from the name of the company's founder, Torakusu Yamaha, who was a pioneer in the manufacture of Western-style musical instruments. |
| 1897 |
Torakusu Yamaha established Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. (currently Yamaha Corporation). |
| 1898 |
The year after the establishment of Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., the "tuning fork" was established as the corporate mark and the "Chinese phoenix holding a tuning fork in its mouth" as the trademark. After undergoing a variety of changes paralleling the growth of the Company, the tuning fork mark and the Yamaha Logo was finally standardized. |
| 1900 |
Yamaha begins production of upright pianos. |
| 1949 |
Yamaha lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
| 1954 |
Yamaha opens a school that was the predecessor of Yamaha Music School. |
| 1955 |
Yamaha launches motorcycle YA-1 and establishes Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (splits off motorcycle division). |
| 1958 |
Yamaha establishes Yamaha de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico. |
| 1959 |
Yamaha begins production of sports equipment (FRP Archery) and electronic organs (Electone™). |
| 1960 |
Yamaha establishes Yamaha International Corporation (currently Yamaha Corporation of America). |
| 1962 |
Yamaha begins recreation business. |
| 1964 |
Yamaha begins production of lifestyle-related products (FRP bathtub). Transfer of shares in living business subsidiary occurred in 2010. |
| 1966 |
Renold Schilke joined Yamaha as a brass instruments development consultant. Yamaha establishes Yamaha Music Foundation (becomes general incorporated foundation in 2011) and expands into Europe with founding of Yamaha Europa GmbH in former West Germany. |
| 1968 |
Yamaha issues shares at market price, the first such issuance in Japan. |
| 1969 |
Yamaha launches Vocal Amplifier System (PA equipment). |
| 1972 |
Yamaha begins production of semiconductors. Transition to fabless manufacturing occurred in 2015. |
| 1980 |
Yamaha establishes Yamaha Piano Technical Academy, a piano tuner training school. |
| 1982 |
Yamaha launches golf clubs. |
| 1987 |
Yamaha changes corporate name from Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. to Yamaha Corporation to mark 100th year in business. Opens Yamaha English-language school. |
| 1989 |
Yamaha establishes Tianjin Yamaha Electronic Musical Instruments, Inc., for manufacture and sale of digital musical instruments. |
| 1995 |
Yamaha launches remote router. |
| 2002 |
Yamaha establishes Yamaha Music & Electronics (China) Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Music Holding Europe GmbH in Germany. |
| 2005 |
Yamaha acquires German audio software house Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. |
| 2007 |
Yamaha establishes a music entertainment business holding company. |
| 2008 |
Yamaha acquires Austrian piano manufacturer L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH and French loudspeaker manufacturer NEXO S.A. |
| 2010 |
Yamaha completes integration of Japanese piano factories into Kakegawa plant. |
| 2014 |
Yamaha acquires U.S. musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturer Line 6, Inc., and wireless audio solutions provider Revolabs, Inc. |
| 2018 |
Yamaha opens R&D facility “Innovation Center”. |
| 2021 |
Yamaha reopens the flagship “Yamaha Ginza Shop” as an experience-oriented brand shop. |
| 2024 |
Yamaha opens the experiential brand shop “Yamaha Music Yokohama Minato Mirai” within the newly developed YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE, establishes a new office building on the premises of Yamaha Corporation’s headquarters, and opens “Yamaha Sound Crossing Shibuya,” a brand communication hub at Shibuya Sakura Stage. |
| 2025 |
Yamaha establishes Yamaha Music Innovations, LLC, a company for business development and CVC fund operation and management, in Silicon Valley, USA. |
