Torakusu Yamaha was born on April 20th 1851, in Kii Province of Japan. As an expert in the repair of medical equipment in Nagasaki, he was appointed in 1884 by the hospital of the city of Hamamatsu as a Technical Director. In 1887 the harmonium from the Hamamatsu Jinjou Elementary School broke and although he knew nothing of this kind of instruments Torakusu Yamaha repaired it to perfection. Inspired by this incident and this success, he decided to try his hand at making musical instruments. Shortly after he built his first portable reed organ and began taking orders for more.
The following year, Torakusu Yamaha established the Yamaha Organ Works as a limited partnership. In January 1892 the company fulfilled its first export order: 78 organs for Southeast Asia. On October 12, 1897, "Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd." was established with a capital of ¥n100,000 and Torakusu Yamaha as its founding president. In January 1900 Torakusu Yamaha began making upright pianos. At this time he took with him as an apprentice a young man who lived nearby his workshop. The name of this boy was Koichi Kawai. 1902 Torakusu Yamaha built its first grand piano. in April 1904 a Yamaha piano and an organ were awarded the Honorary Grand Prize at the St. Louis World's Fair. Torakusu Yamaha died August 8th 1916.
The company's origins as a musical instrument manufacturer is still reflected today in the group's logo - a trio of interlocking tuning forks. Yamaha, as a leading music corporation introduced 1983 the "Clavinova". This digital piano was a true revolution and the first real new improvement of Torakusu's work.
Hamamatsu carries in Japan the nickname "City of Music". In addition to the Kawai, Roland and Yamaha's main plant for Pianos and Keyboards Hamamatsu also has a major conservatory, a well-known orchestra with its own concert hall (the Music Hall in the office and hotel complex ACT City) and an extensive collection of instruments from several centuries, which can be seen in the local music museum. The Hamamatsu International Piano Competition celebrates Hamamatsu's history as a city of musical instruments and music, and brings dozens of the best young pianists from all over the world. It has been held triennially since 1991 at the Act City Concert Hall and Main Hall.
Torakusu Yamaha
The company's origins as a musical instrument manufacturer is still reflected today in the group's logo - a trio of interlocking tuning forks. Yamaha, as a leading music corporation introduced 1983 the "Clavinova". This digital piano was a true revolution and the first real new improvement of Torakusu's work.
Hamamatsu carries in Japan the nickname "City of Music". In addition to the Kawai, Roland and Yamaha's main plant for Pianos and Keyboards Hamamatsu also has a major conservatory, a well-known orchestra with its own concert hall (the Music Hall in the office and hotel complex ACT City) and an extensive collection of instruments from several centuries, which can be seen in the local music museum. The Hamamatsu International Piano Competition celebrates Hamamatsu's history as a city of musical instruments and music, and brings dozens of the best young pianists from all over the world. It has been held triennially since 1991 at the Act City Concert Hall and Main Hall.
