The Philosophy of Yonex Began with One Motor.

In 1946, just after World War II had ended, Yonex was founded as a wood crafting business powered by just a one-horsepower motor. After refining the technique of wood manufacturing, Yonex started to manufacture badminton racquets in 1957. In 1969, Yonex began to manufacture tennis racquets made with aluminum, and then in 1982, they started to produce golf clubs made with raw carbon materials. Nowadays, Yonex is involved in the snowboard and walking shoe industries as well. It has not been an easy ride during the company's 60-year history. Yonex has learned that the toughest situation creates the greatest opportunities. This spirit will carry Yonex through all the challenges it takes to make the next 100 years successful.
1946	Minoru Yoneyama founded Yoneyama Company, Ltd., a producer of wooden floats for fishing nets. His wood crafting business thrived until modern advancements - namely plastic floats - forced the company out of the float business. At this time, frustrated by being pushed aside by advanced technology, Yoneyama vowed never again to be left behind technologically. Thus, he began a commitment that eventually led to innovations in the world of golf, tennis and badminton. By 1957, relying on its strengths in wood crafting, the Yoneyama Company had evolved into a manufacturer of badminton racquets under other brand names.
1961	The first Yoneyama-brand badminton racquet was introduced in 1961. Two years later, Yoneyama Trading, Ltd., was established in Tokyo to distribute the racquets internationally. The company's commitment to innovation attracted significant attention in 1968 when Yoneyama introduced the world's first aluminum badminton racquet, the #7000. Today, Yonex is the leading distributor worldwide of badminton racquets.
1969	Yoneyama Company diversified by entering the tennis racquet industry.
1973	The company's new "YY" logo, the blue and green color combination, was introduced and soon was a familiar sight on badminton and tennis courts around the globe. One year later, the company and brand name were changed to Yonex.
1980	Yonex's commitment to innovation brought exciting changes to tennis racquet manufacturing with the introduction of the R-series in 1980. The R-1 was the world's first square, or "isometric," tennis racquet. Soon after, Yonex signed grand slam champions Billy Jean King and Martina Navratilova. The world's first ultra-light badminton racquet, Carbonex 8, was introduced. That year, it won the All England Badminton Championship.
1982	Following the successful use of lightweight materials in the manufacture of racquets, Yonex began to explore similar applications in golf clubs. Yonex decided to introduce the world's first all-graphite-head driver, the Carbonex II. This was followed by the first graphite-headed iron, aptly named the Carboniron.
1983	The Yonex Corporation was established in the United States as a subsidiary of Yonex Company, Ltd.
1984	Yonex became the exclusive sponsor of the All England Badminton Championships.
1987	Martina Navratilova successfully won six consecutive Grand Slam titles with the R-22. Prince Edward honored the All England Badminton Championships with his presence.
1989	Yonex launched the A.D.X. Widebody golf club line, becoming the first manufacturer to feature widebody club heads. In that same year, an A.D.X. driver made the Guinness Book of World Records when it was used to hit a 412-yard drive, the longest drive ever in a PGA-sanctioned event.
1990	Yonex signed tennis star Monica Seles, one of the many world-class players to endorse Yonex racquets. With Yonex, Monica became the youngest woman player to achieve a World #1 Ranking and has won numerous Grand Slam titles.
1991	Yonex introduced the Yonex Long Drive Team. This elite group of golfers is well known for its extreme long drive abilities, and its members have all at one time or another been world-record holders, U.S. National Long Drive Champions or finalists.
1992	Building on the success of the isometric design in tennis, Yonex introduced the world's first isometric widebody badminton racquet, the Isometric 500. In August 1992, Yonex was present on two fronts as badminton entered the Olympic arena. On the courts, Yonex players won every Gold and Silver medal awarded. In addition, Yonex was the official equipment supplier to the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
1994	Yonex became a listed company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Utilizing an entirely new production technique called "Inner Pressure Molding," Yonex introduced the Super A.D.X. driver and fairway woods. The 300cc Super A.D.X. driver achieved instant success when it was used to win the 1994 U.S. Open Long Drive Championship. Continuing its innovation in other sports, Yonex introduced the first graphite composite snowboard to the Japanese market.
1995	Continuing its innovation in other sports, Yonex introduced the first graphite composite snowboard to the Japanese market.
1996	Yonex was named an official licensee of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games and was also named the Games' official Badminton Equipment Supplier. In competition, players using Yonex racquets, footwear and clothing captured every Gold and Silver and all but one of the Bronze medals awarded in badminton, reconfirming Yonex's dominant position in the sport. Monica Seles maintained her undefeated record at the Australian Open as she captured the ladies' singles title using the Yonex SRQ-500 Long. The Wimbledon men's singles final was an all-Yonex event with Richard Krajicek, using the new Super RD-tour, becoming the champion. Meanwhile, the up-and-coming Yonex star, 15-year-old Martina Hingis, became the youngest-ever Wimbledon Champion as she won the ladies' doubles title. As the Yonex Teradomari Country Club was officially opened in Japan, Yonex introduced its line of Super A.D.X. irons, combining graphite and steel in a unique hybrid club and featuring the thinnest steel face on the market. The senior and ladies models featured ultra-lightweight graphite shafts weighing 1.8 ounces, the lightest in the industry. Yonex also introduced its first-ever metal driver, the Super A.D.X. Titanium. The titanium driver began the next technological phase, which took Yonex to the next level in product development, initiating a return to prominence among distance-conscious golfers. Following the introduction of the Super A.D.X. Titanium Hybrid irons, Yonex now has a complete set of irons and woods for golfers of all levels.
1997	A 16-year-old Martina Hingis won the Australian Open with the Pro RD 70-Long and moved to #1 in the world rankings, following in the footsteps of fellow Yonex player Monica Seles. At 16 years, 6 months, she became the youngest player to achieve #1 world ranking status. In 1997, Minoru Yoneyama, founder of Yonex, became chairman of Yonex Group and appointed Kosaku Yoneyama as the new president of Yonex. The company introduced the Pendulum Power System (P.P.S.) to its line of titanium woods and irons. Yonex complemented the titanium line with the introduction of the Super A.D.X. Titanium Senior woods and irons. Yonex staff member Scott Hoch was named to the Ryder Cup Team. He also won the Greater Milwaukee Open, the eighth PGA Tour win of his professional career.
1998	The Yonex Sports Development Foundation was established as a non-profit foundation to support all levels of youth, high school and university sports development and education. Chairman Minoru Yoneyama received the Vince Lombardi Award from the Boy Scouts of America-Los Angeles for his continuous contribution to youth education through sports. March 1998 marked the first time in Yonex history that they had world ranked #1 tennis players for both men and ladies with Marcelo Rios and Martina Hingis. Yonex signed a tennis racquet contract with young Australian Lleyton Hewitt. At the 1998 PGA Show in Orlando, Yonex introduced stainless steel woods and irons with P.P.S. shaft technology - the Super A.D.X. 200 line.
1999	Martina Hingis won her third consecutive Australian Open title for both singles and doubles using her Yonex racquet. Yonex became Title Sponsor of the Japanese Ladies Pro Golf Association Event at Yonex Teradomari Country Club. The event was named the Yonex Ladies Open. In March 1999, Chairman Minoru Yoneyama received the Special Meritorious Award from the Badminton Association of England for his continuous support of the All England Badminton Championship. This award was handed to Chairman Minoru Yoneyama by Prince Andrew at the site of the 100th All England Badminton Championship.
2000	Yonex became the Official Badminton Equipment Supplier of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. At the Sydney Olympics, the Yonex racquet won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Yonex introduced to the Japanese market their first walking shoes, featuring a new shock absorbing material named Power Cushion. Yonex signed Monica Seles to a full contract including tennis racquets, shoes and apparel. Yonex introduced the first V-mass series of golf clubs. The V-mass 250 featured metal-head wood clubs with strategic Tungsten Weight Balance. The V-mass 250 reconfirmed Yonex's commitment to long distance through superior technology.
2001	Chairman Minoru Yoneyama was honored by the Japanese Government for his contributions through sports. The year 2001 also marked the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Yoneyama Company. At the end of the year, Lleyton Hewitt won the U.S. Open, becoming the youngest number one player in history. Yonex introduced the new V-mass 350 titanium head wood. Concurrently, the V-mass 350 iron was launched, featuring a strategic Tungsten Weight Balanced cavity back. The V-mass 350 features the proprietary UL-Titanium composite graphite shaft, which generates more club head speed. The V-mass 350 driver was chosen as "Best of the Best Drivers" by Rankmark in 2001.
2002	Yonex entered the Chinese market with its first agency in China. Yonex introduced the new V-mass 350 Plus driver with a 330cc Titanium head and the V-mass 400 driver with a 400cc Titanium head featuring the High Power-Wave Face, which creates extra power and distance and a larger impact sweet zone. And, like the V-mass 350 driver in 2001, the V-mass 350 Plus driver was chosen as "Best of the Best Drivers" by Rankmark in 2002.
2004	Yonex was selected as the "Super Brand," the most influential brand in Indonesia and Malaysia. Yonex presented a special racquet to Mrs. Megawati, the former president of Indonesia, as a memento of winning the award. Yonex Corporation signed Colin Montgomerie to a multi-year International Tour player endorsement contract. Colin Montgomerie is not only a seven-time European Tour Order of Merit winner. He has also amassed 32 career victories worldwide, including 27 wins on the European Tour, has been a member of six European Ryder Cup teams and was the captain of the G.B. and Ireland team at the Seve Trophy in 2000, 2002 and 2003. And, in dramatic comeback fashion, Monty won the 2004 Caltex Masters for his 33rd career international win.
2005	The Cyberstar NanoV driver was used to win the long drive championships at the D-1 Grand Prix in Japan. This substantiated the catch copy "drive over high repulsion." Colin Montgomerie claimed his record-breaking eighth European Tour Order of Merit.
2006	Yonex diversified by entering the health sports industry. Yonex also invented "Inner Wear" technology using eucalyptus as a raw material.
2007	Yonex celebrated their 25th successive year as title sponsors at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships. The Nanospeed i driver was awarded "Winner of the Golf Europe Product Awards." Ryo Aono, Yonex's contracted professional snowboarder, won the World Cup Half-Pipe Championships.
2008	At the Beijing Olympic Games, all 24 badminton medals went to Yonex's contracted players, a feat that no other sports manufacturer has achieved. Elena Dementieva won the Gold in Beijing (ladies' singles). Yonex signed tennis superstar Ana Ivanovic. Ana goes on to win in the French Open before reaching the coveted world #1 spot. Yonex signed a head-to-toe contract with Ryo Ishikawa. Ryo, at age 17, created history when he became the youngest Japanese professional golfer to win on the Japanese Tour. Ryo was the runner-up at the 2008 Japan Open. Colin Montgomerie was unveiled as the captain of the 2010 Ryder Cup, to be staged at Celtic Manor.
2009	Yonex signed world #1 badminton player Lee Chong Wei, who won the Silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. ArcSaber Z-Slash became the first of a new generation of slim racquets. During initial testing at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, smash speeds were recorded at 421 km/h (261.6 mph), the fastest ever recorded by Yonex (as of September 2009). Yonex advisory staff player Monica Seles was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame due to her illustrious achievements in tennis. Lleyton Hewitt surpassed 500 victories on the ATP Tour, joining an elite group of players. Ryo Ishikawa won four titles on the Japanese Tour. Ryo also competed at the prestigious Presidents Cup in the U.S.
Today	Today, Yonex is a successful global company with its corporate headquarters located in Tokyo, Japan. Subsidiary companies operate around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Taiwan. Yonex continues to be driven to produce the most technologically advanced sports equipment to enable players, both amateur and professional, to play their sport at a higher level