Yamaha Corp

Hamamatsu, Japanwww.yamaha.com
Invested through / Financed by
  • Triodos Pioneer Impact Fund
Asset classListed equity
Impact strategyImpact Equities and Bonds
SectorRecreation
Bloomberg ticker7951 JP
ISIN codeJP3942600002
Industry groupConsumer Durables and Apparel
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Good health and well-being

Yamaha Corporation mainly develops, manufactures and sells analog and digital musical instruments, professional and consumer audio equipment and semiconductors. The company generates two-thirds of its sales from musical instruments and is the world's largest manufacturer of a wide variety of musical instruments, including (digital) pianos, keyboards, wind instruments and guitars, making it the only company in the world with a comprehensive line up of analog and digital instruments, as well as professional audio equipment for studios and live concerts. Yamaha also has 4,100 music schools in Japan and overseas, which have given musical education to an aggregate of 710,000 students to date.

Yamaha was founded in 1887 and in 1955 Yamaha Motor Co. became an independent company from Yamaha Corporation to focus on motorcycle manufacturing.

Investment rationale

Yamaha is a theme fit for the Prosperous & Healthy People investment theme. Studies have shown that playing a musical instrument comes with several benefits. It enables emotional release through creative self-expression, provides a sense of achievement to build confidence, improves manual coordination skills and communication, strengthens memory function by engaging both sides of the brain and reduces anxiety and stress. Aside from all these aspects related to health and well-being, music also has a social value as it can promote inclusivity, foster social bonds and strengthen local communities.

Many of the instruments that Yamaha makes are primarily made of wood, the sourcing of which could potentially have an adverse impact on biodiversity. But Yamaha has strong policies and practices for sustainable timber procurement and efficient resource use. Over the last two years the ratio of certified timber has quadrupled and the company has been involved in several tree planting and management projects. For example, Yamaha helped preserve the near threatened African Blackwood tree species in Tanzania and over the course of ten years 175 ha of trees were planted in Indonesia to regenerate natural forests.