Yamaha is a globally recognized Japanese brand known for its motorcycles, watercraft, and engines, as well as its historical connection to musical instruments. Founded in 1955 as Yamaha Motor Company, a branch of the larger Yamaha Corporation, the brand has earned a reputation for precision, innovation, and quality. Today, Yamaha Motor operates with over 100 subsidiaries worldwide, cementing its status as one of the leading manufacturers of motorcycles and water transport.

Yamaha engines are exclusively produced by Yamaha Motor Company, which specializes in crafting engines for motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, boats, and other vehicles. These engines reflect the company's commitment to engineering excellence and reliability.

The name Yamaha translates to "mountain blade" in Japanese, reflecting the brand’s roots and samurai-inspired legacy. Yamaha’s logo history highlights its evolution, with a consistent focus on simplicity and symbolism rooted in Japanese culture. Initially, Yamaha Motors used the Yamaha Corporation logo, a design from the early 20th century, as its visual identity before creating its own.

1967 – 1980
Yamaha introduced its first official logo in 1967. The design included a bold wordmark accompanied by a symbol on the left, all in black. The logo’s strong sans-serif font conveyed precision and confidence.

1980 – 1987
In 1980, Yamaha refreshed its logo by reversing the color scheme, switching to a white background with black elements. This lighter, more balanced version featured refined and elegant lettering.

1987 – 1998
Yamaha adopted a minimalist approach in 1987, removing the emblem and focusing solely on the wordmark. This clean, modern design reflected the company’s progressive vision.

1998 – 2016
In 1998, Yamaha reinstated its iconic emblem while introducing a vibrant red-and-white color scheme. The logo's bold and narrow lettering, reminiscent of Swiss 911 Extra Compressed, symbolized energy and passion, aligning with Yamaha’s dynamic identity.

2016 – Present
The 2016 redesign refined the logo, placing the emblem—a circle with three crossed tuning forks—at the forefront. The updated design emphasizes harmony and balance, with a narrowed typeface for the wordmark, enhancing its strength and stability. The tuning forks, a central feature, symbolize the company’s focus on technology, production, and sales, while also representing the alignment of Customer, Society, and Person in Yamaha’s philosophy.

The tuning fork emblem, enclosed in a circular frame, reflects Yamaha’s dedication to rhythm and harmony, values that extend across its diverse product lines. Yamaha Motor Company’s version differs slightly, with tuning forks crossing the circle or its inner boundary, symbolizing movement and innovation.

Although Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Music originated from the same parent company, they have since evolved into distinct entities. Yamaha Motor focuses on vehicles and engines, while Yamaha Music is renowned for its instruments, including pianos and guitars. Despite their different paths, both divisions uphold the legacy of quality and innovation established by Torakusu Yamaha, the company’s founder.