The Yamaha logo guarantees speed and flawless riding. The brand’s motorcycle rushes like an arrow in whichever direction the driver chooses. The emblem predicts good luck and evokes a feeling of harmony and balance.
Yamaha: Brand overview
Founded: | 1 May 1955 |
Founder: | Genichi Kawakami |
Headquarters: |
Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan |
Website: | global.yamaha-motor.com |
Meaning and History
In reality, the brand’s career growth began a long time ago – in 1887, when Torakusu Yamaha created the Nippon Gakki Co. Ltd. to produce musical instruments. Gradually, the successful organization expanded and began to open related subdivisions not related to the main activity. One of them is a subsidiary of the same name for the production of equipment.
The transportation department emerged in the post-war years when the demand for pianos declined, and the demand for motorcycles and other means of transportation increased. Gradually, he moved away from the parent corporation and became legally independent. But in financial terms, he is still associated with it, because the Yamaha Corporation (formerly Nippon Gakki) owns a controlling stake.
The Yamaha Motor Company logo is a tribute to the founder. It shows three tuning forks for tuning musical instruments. They are intertwined in an original shape and form an individual pattern. During the entire existence of the brand, it had only two corporate symbols. The first – in black and white – was used until 1998. The second is a red sign with a metallic sheen, which is relevant now.
What is Yamaha?
Yamaha is a Japanese multinational corporation that was established in 1887. It is one of the leading manufacturers of musical instruments in the world. Since 1955, the company has also been producing legendary motorcycles. Its founder is Torakusu Yamaha. The headquarters is located in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
1955 – 1964
The debut logo features a large “M” combined with tuning forks. Their outlines are visible in the figure of the letter and its gaps. In general, there are three stylized instrument customization accessories, one in the center and two others on the right and left. Each of them repeats a written symbol, forming a single structure because it cannot be said that this is a text emblem: it contains only graphics. Three more tuning forks are crossed together and placed at the top, above the sign for the word “motorcycle.” For example, a two-wheeled vehicle company expressed gratitude to the parent company that manufactures musical instruments. All elements are encircled by a thin ring and located inside an even circle.
1964 – today
After the redesign, there was a radical revolution in the brand identity, and there are several reasons for this:
- The developers added text to the logo.
- The bulky “M” has disappeared from the visual identity sign.
- The tuning forks were rearranged and placed in a double ring.
Tool setter accessories are positioned to shape the rim with curly elements, resembling hubs. The brand name is executed in a smooth font. Chopped characters are visible against a white background and are easy to read.
1998 – present
This version of the logo is iconic, as it first appeared in colorful colors. The background circle, edge lines, and lettering are painted red, while the tuning forks and the wide dividing strip are painted metallic. This was done to emphasize the similarity of the icon to the wheel and disk. In addition, a gradient and sparkling highlights have been added to the circle to make it bulge.
Font and Colors
Both the main corporation and the transportation department have very similar logos in appearance. This is because the subsidiary has produced products under the label of the parent company and only in 1964 separated from it. In 1976, it received its trademark, which differed from the base one in some details.
In his word “Yamaha,” the central element of the letter “M” is symmetrical and has the correct shape, and in the corporate logo, it is shortened. The next difference is in the tuning forks. For a motorcycle manufacturer, the tips extend outside the inner circle and contact the outer strip. Whereas in the musical giant’s emblem, there is only one circle, and the tuning forks do not reach the edge at all.
Forks represent the unification of rhythm, harmony, and melody. The Yamaha logo, they also symbolize the basis of business partnerships: technology, production, trade. Also, the logo denotes a powerful life force, securely enclosed in a vicious circle.
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. Uses the symmetrical typeface emblem in which the middle column of the “M” is not shortened. The lettering is in a sleek sans-serif uppercase script. The shipping brand’s color palette is black and white, and red, while the parent corporation only uses purple in the logo.
Yamaha color codes
Vivid Red | Hex color: | #ff141e |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 255 20 30 | |
CMYK: | 0 92 88 0 | |
Pantone: | PMS Bright Red C |