Search results
In 1932, Japanese physicist, Shohei Tanaka （1862-1945） invented a Japanese just intonation reed organ （hereafter J-JIRO） which improved upon his German JIRO （i.e. Enharmonium） designs. In his main work, The Foundations of Japanese Harmony （1940）, Tanaka classified JI into “JI”, “authentic-JI”, and “broad-JI”.
Yamaha was the first Japanese manufacturer of the reed organ and established Nippon Gakki Co Ltd in Hamamatsu to produce organs and other musical instruments including pianos and harmonicas. Nippon Gakki was later renamed the Yamaha Corporation in his honor.
- The Early Years
- Diversification Into New Areas
- Audio Comes of Age
- An Era of Rapid Expansion
- Yamaha Today
- Anatomy of A Logo
- Milestones
Encouraged by his success and recognizing the need for quality musical instruments, Torakusu began creating a prototype reed organ of his own. When it was complete, he decided to present it in person to the prestigious Music Institute (today’s Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music). The journey between the two cities at that time was a l...
In the late 1940s, Genichi Kawakami, then-president of Yamaha, began looking for ways to apply the company’s expertise to the manufacture of motorcycles. In 1955, the success of the YA-1 “Red Dragonfly” resulted in the founding of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. At around the same time, Nippon Gakki began research into the use of new materials such as glass...
Despite the worldwide success of Yamaha Motors, the central theme of Nippon Gakki remained true to its founder’s central interest: music. During the “Hi-Fi” boom of the 1950s, the company began producing audio components to help music lovers enjoy their leisure time. When integrated circuits began replacing transistors in the early 1970s, Nippon Ga...
The 1980s were a time of growth for Yamaha. In 1982, the Disklavier™ was unveiled – a revolutionary product that combined an acoustic piano with a built-in computer to record and play back performances. The DX7 digital synthesizer, introduced in 1983, quickly became the world’s best-selling synth. In 1987, Yamaha released its first digital mixer, f...
In 1960, Nippon Gakki established the Yamaha International Corporation (later renamed Yamaha Corporation of America). Today, Yamaha is the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments, as well as a leading manufacturer of semiconductors, AV components, computer-related products, sporting goods, household and furniture products, specialty met...
In 1898, Nippon Gakki adopted a tuning fork as the basis for an official company logo, inspired by the challenge faced by founder Torakusu Yamaha as he struggled to refine his reed organ prototype into one that held its tuning. The three tuning forks of the modern Yamaha logo symbolize the three essential musical elements: melody, harmony and rhyth...
Here are a few milestones in the history of Yamaha: 1887: First reed organ 1900: First upright piano 1902: First grand piano 1914: First harmonica 1915: First xylophone 1932: First pipe organ 1954: First Hi-Fi player 1959: First electric organ 1966: First acoustic guitar; first electric guitar; first electric bass; first guitar amplifier; first tru...
Oct 1, 1996 · The reed organ was introduced to Japan and also became successful there, with Japanese reed organ production beginning in the 1880s. The instrument often called the ‘‘American’’ reed organ differs from the ‘‘European’’ harmonium in the use of a vacuum exhauster rather than a pressure bellows to drive the free reed vibration.
According to the Reed Organ Club Japan, founded in August 1996, the history of the reed organ in Japan goes back to the 1860s, when reed organs were being introduced by Christian missionaries for use in church services.
Made around 1900~1910 (Meiji & Taisho era),Yamato Organ type 2. Japanese Style organ with a cloth around the lower part of the body for the player wearing Japanese kimono or to protect...
People also ask
What happened to reed organs in Japan?
Where did reed organs come from?
When did reed organs stop being made?
Who built reed organs in Japan?
When did Yamaha start making reed organs?
How many reed organs did Torakusu make?
Manufacture of reed organs begins. 1934: Manufacture of harmonicas begins. 1935: Corporate structure expanded to partnership basis. Production capacity: 75 upright pianos and 10 grand pianos per month. 1937: Japan enters the Second World War. Company required to shift to the production of military supplies: aircraft parts and gliders. 1946
