Research Paper
Alana Hamlett
Mr. Skipper
Encounters 7
Date:February 20,2021
From Small To Big
Introduction
Torakusu Yamaha was the first Japanese manufacturer of the reed organ and created Nippon Gakki Co Ltd in Hamamatsu. His love and passion for creating things are what started his career. This led him to make organs and other musical instruments, pianos, and harmonicas. After creating the first reed organ, which many people spoke great things about. Torkasu had the opportunity to build several more. A few years later, Torakusu went on to create Nippon Gakki Co Ltd. Nippon Gakki was later renamed the Yamaha Corporation in Torakusu’s honor. Therefore, this is what Yamaha created before getting into other businesses. Yamaha Corporation started all because of the first reed organ he made for an elementary school. Torakusu's dedication, knowledge of machinery and technology changed his life forever. It allowed him to go on to create many musical instruments that we used today. Without Torakusu Yamaha, we wouldn’t have these special instruments that are used all over the world.
Early Life
Torakusu Yamaha was born on May 20, 1851, in Wakayama, Japan. Torakusu was the third son of the three children in his family (Torakusu Yamaha). No one really knows about his family except for his dad, Konosuke Yamaha, a Samurai from Wakayama Prefecture, a government division in Japan. He was a Samurai for the Kisu clan. His father was interested in Astronomy and Mechanics and made sure Torakusu had a modern education. His dad’s job gave Torakusu access to many books relating to astronomy. In his twenties, Japanese society changed rapidly with the arrival of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and Torakusu saw many opportunities as the era brought occidentalism and the introduction of new technologies to Japan (Torakusu Yamaha Biography). In 1871, Torakusu went to Nagasaki and started studying watchmaking under the guidance of a British Engineer (Lego). This demonstrates that Torakusu became fascinated with machines and technology (Torakusu Yamaha). When Torakusu was young, he wasn’t just interested in martial arts, he was also good at Kendō, which is Japanese swordsmanship (Lego). It was maybe taught by his dad so he can be a future Samurai. At the age of 35, Torakusu moved to Hamamatsu to repair medical equipment as a career. However, since Hamamatsu was a small town back then, Torakusu could not make a living repairing medical equipment, so he also repaired watches and served as a rickshaw man for a hospital director. A local primary school, Jinjou Elementary School asked him to fix their broken organ, as the town was small and they did not have anyone who was qualified to fix one (Torakusu Yamaha Biography). Torakusu used his experience from his jobs and the books allowed him to create and repair things.
Beginning of Career
His dad’s job gave Torakusu access to many books about astronomy. This shows that his dad helped influence Yamaha with what he was interested in. Jinjou Elementary School asked him to fix their broken organ. Torakusu’s job helped him fix the organ and he hoped that his experience will give him a shot when he submits it. That’s how he created the first Japanese reed organ (Torakusu Yamaha Biography). After receiving negative reviews on his organ, Torakusu moved closer to the music department of Tokyo. To get the organ to the university, he was forced to carry it a distance of 160 miles. After presenting the instrument to the university, professors at the university then said the instrument was badly created (Torakusu Yamaha). Torakusu was then allowed to attend programs at the university to learn more about music theory. Torakusu built the second Japanese reed organ and it got a better rating than the first one ( Torakusu Yamaha Biography). He then received orders for seven organs, including one for the governor of Shizuoka (Torakusu Yamaha).
Significant Accomplishments
Yamaha has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of musical instruments like pianos, drums, guitars, brass instruments, woodwinds, and violins.
The elementary school asked him to fix their broken organ, so he had created the first Japanese reed organ (Torakusu Yamaha Biography). In 1887, Torakusu founded Nippon Gakki Co Ltd. After founding the company, he set up a manufacturing plant. In 1889 the Minister of Education asked the president of Nippon Gakki to look into the administration system and working conditions of musical instruments in schools. In that same year, Nippon Gakki sold about 250 organs to schools in Japan. With this success, the company looked into the production of pianos, harmonicas, and xylophones (Torakusu Yamaha). He created instruments for schools and more, for example, audio components, tennis rackets and archery products in the United States. In 1900, Torakusu and Nippon Gakki produced their first upright piano. In March 1902, Torakusu received the Medal of Honor with Green Ribbon. Torakusu also served as a director of Hamamatsu Railway, the local railway in the Hamamatsu area. In 1911, Torakusu was elected to the Hamamatsu City Council and appointed as the Vice Chairman of the council (Torakusu Yamaha Biography). Torakusu taught instrument making to an apprentice named Koichi Kawai, who was 11 years old at the time, during his early career as the founder of the company Nippon Gakki. When Kawai grew up, founded a company named Kawai Musical Instruments which soon became rivals with Nippon Gakki. Later, Genichi Kawakami joined the Yamaha Corporation in 1937 and got the president position in 1950. In 1955, he introduced motorcycle production, which resulted in the establishment of Yamaha Motor Co (History of Yamaha Motorcycles). Yamaha Corporation formed Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. for the purpose of producing motorcycles. Their first model was powered by a simple engine and was designated the YA-1 (Our Story).
Impact on World
Torakusu’s impact on the world was big to the point Yamaha is a recommended company. Without his involvement in the world, we won’t have instruments like harmonicas and organs that we in society today use weekly in choirs, operas, and many more things all over the world (Torakusu Yamaha). When there are football games at halftime there can be a band playing; those instruments can be by the Yamaha company. A lot of school bands use Yamaha because it’s preferred and most instruments at schools are mostly the Yamaha brand. In choirs, the piano or organ used to play can be of the Yamaha brand. The company changed its name to Yamaha Corporation to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment (Torakusu Yamaha Biography). Music wouldn’t have been the same without Torakusu and his impact on the music industry. We use his inventions in songs, music videos, gatherings, concerts, and without his inventions known orchestras wouldn’t have their instruments. Due to his Yamaha influences and teaching ability he was able to show others how to do what he did so well with his hands and his mind. Yamaha has changed the game of music by delivering high quality instruments all over the world even after his death. Yamaha’s legacy lives on today, from medical equipment to watches, to musical instruments, to motor vehicles. He has made a big change in the world that had a positive impact.
Conclusion
Torakusu's dedication and knowledge of machinery and technology helped him be successful in his lifetime including ours. Since Torakusu knew how to repair watches, when Jinjou Elementary School asked him to fix their broken organ, Torakusu used his experience from his jobs and the books helped him repair the organ. We can apply these lessons by learning how to play the piano and saxophone. Torakusu teaches us how to be successful even after our death. Yamaha had a big impact on our world, so without him, we wouldn’t have the big music industry that we all love today. A lot of school bands use Yamaha because it’s recommended and most instruments at schools are mostly from the Yamaha brand. Torakusu Yamaha is someone to look up to because he shows how you can do something to help someone and it can change your life. Yamaha went from helping a school out with their broken reed organ to having a successful business that people all around the world use and talk about today.
Works Cited
“The History of Yamaha Motorcycles.” UTI Corporate, 2021, www.uti.edu/blog/motorcycle/yamaha-motorcycle-history. Accessed 6 Nov. 2021.
Lego, Don. “The Historical Background of Yamaha Corporation.” AutomoThink, 11 May 2021, automothink.com/the-history-of-yamaha.html. Accessed 13 Nov. 2021.
“Origins of the Yamaha Brand.” Yamaha, www.yamaha.com/en/
about/history/brand/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2021.
“Our Story.” History | Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America, www.yamaha-motor-georgia.com/history.html. Accessed 6 Nov. 2021.
“Torakusu Yamaha.” Prabook.com, prabook.com/web/torakusu.yamaha/3752626. Accessed 5 Nov. 2021.
“Torakusu Yamaha Biography.” Torakusu Yamaha Biography | HowOld.co, https://www.howold.co/person/torakusu-yamaha/biography. Accessed 6 Jan. 2022.