Torakusu Yamaha Founder of Yamaha

Biography of Torakusu Yamaha

Early Life

Torakusu Yamaha founder of Yamaha Corporation was born in Kii Province Japan on 20^th April, 1851. He was the third son of his father, Takanosuke. His family belonged to Kishu Domain. His father’s work was in the field of astronomy and he carried out cadastral surveys, engineering projects and an astronomer’s work.

As a teenager he was not only a skillful craftsman but he was also good at a Japanese martial art Kendo. He with his family moved out to Osaka because of bad financial conditions due to change of government from Edo to Meiji. He was 21 years old at that time.

Interest in Mechanics

When he moved to Osaka, there he developed his interest in mechanics and developing pocket watches. For making it professional he went for a 2 year course in mechanics from Nagasaki. After completing that study he returned back to Osaka and worked at a shop named Kawachi-ya as medical appliances repairer.

Progress in Working Career

He worked at that shop for many years. When he was 32 years old, that shop sent him to Hamamatsu, where he worked for a hospital, repairing of medical appliances. Hospital’s name was Hamamatsu Byoin, which was located in front of Gosha Shrine. He used to live there in a room at Shimizu-ya hotel by paying monthly rent.

 His third job was at an elementary school. A public school was newly developed and they employed him as a musical instrument repairer. Whenever any instrument was broken or went out of order, school asked him to repair that.

From Repairer to a Manufacturer

He worked there until the age of 36 years. He became strong-minded for manufacturing his own instruments. He tried to make his own instrument from sketches and blueprints which he made for repairing purposes. He was financially weak, that’s why a hotel owner Komatsu-ya financed him and gave him loan for the purchase of tools and material. Two other officials of that hospital also supported his work in which hospital’s director was also included. Within two months he invented an instrument with 39 keys. But it was not tuned efficiently. It was also rejected by the principal of Tokyo Music School because of its bad tuning. Then he studied tuning also and made a fine tuned instrument.

Founder of Yamaha Corporation

His instrument making business went successful and within short span of time many other instrument makers combined with him and did business and in this way a large company was found in the field of musical instruments. Eventually after so many ups and downs he established a company with the name Nippon Gakki Company. Initially it was piano and other musical instruments producing company. Afterwards it was renamed as Yamaha Corporation.

Yamaha Corporation

Yamaha Corporation is a multinational conglomerate company of Japan. Initially this company was started with the name of Nippon Gakki Company which was made for only musical instrument production, but slowly and gradually its fields of production diversified. Now it provides goods and services in different domains like musical instruments, motorcycles, electrical sport equipment, and other electronics.

Its first motorcycle was introduced after World War II that was YA-1. That bike was 125cc and a single cylinder two-stroke bike. It was named Yamaha in the honor of its founder.

His Personality

His nature was very loving and caring. Before and after the creation of such a big company his nature remained same. He never changed his loving nature to proud nature. He took care of sick employees by visiting them and giving them medical expenses.

Death

He passed his later life as the president of that company. He rested in peace at the age of 64 years. He died on 8^th August of the year 1916.