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us > History > 1955 - 1959
- Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded with Genichi Kawakami as the first
President
- Nippon Gakki Hamana Factory established in Hamakita-cho (present Hamamatsu
city), Hamana-gun, Shizuoka Pref., and production of our first product,
the 125cc Yamaha motorcycle "YA-1" begins
- YA-1 wins 125cc class of the 3rd Mount Fuji Ascent Race
- YA-1 captures first three places at the 1st All Japan Autobike Endurance
Road Race (Asama Highlands Race) in the Ultralight (125cc) class
- YA-1 wins 1st to 8th places (125cc class) and YC1 wins 1st to 5th places
(250cc class) at 4th Mount Fuji Ascent Race
- Yamaha Motor Hamamatsu Research Institute founded and operations shifted
from the Nippon Gakki Hamamatsu Research Institute
- YA-1 wins1st, 2nd and 5th places (125cc class) and YC-1 wins 1st to
3rd places (Light class) at 2nd All Japan Autobike Endurance Road Race
(Asama Highlands Race)
- Took 6th place in first attempt at 8th Catalina Grand Prix in the U.S.
(Yamaha's international racing debut)
- Yamaha De Mexico S.A. de C.V. established with investment by Nippon
Gakki and local Mexican investors
- Yamaha "YA-2" becomes first motorcycle to win Japan's "Good
Design Award"
- The first full-fledged sports motorcycle by a Japanese maker, "YDS1" released,
actor Yujiro Ishihara used as commercial endorser
- Kitagawa Motor Co., Ltd. joins Yamaha Motor group
- Yamaha Technological Research Institute established at Hamakita-cho
(present Hamamatsu), Hamana-gun, Shizuoka Pref., for overall R&D for
Yamaha Motor group
- Completion of Tenryu test course in Hamakita-cho (present Hamamatsu
city), Hamana-gun, Shizuoka Pref.
