In 1936 the Berlin Olympics were held, with recorder performances included in the celebrations, and at that time a Japanese national was in the audience. That was a man named Yoshitaka Sakamoto, who was studying abroad in Germany at the time. Seeing a performance by a large crowd of children playing recorders made a deep impression on him, and recognizing the educational value of the instrument he took soprano, alto and tenor models back to Japan with him when he returned. It was at that time that the recorder came to Japan. Sakamoto tried to produce these models of recorder in Japan, and petitioned Nihon Kangakki Kabushikigaisha (later Yamaha Corporation), where their manufacture began. 

Because of their meticulous attention to detail throughout the production process, Yamaha recorders are recognized worldwide for their high quality, and loved by the best musicians in the world.