A special group at Yamaha Motor is dedicated to unravelling the nearly 70 years
of our motorcycle history in order to pass it on to the next generation.
Some are like archeologists, scouring the world for rare Yamahas sold over half a century ago.
Some are like magicians, completely restoring the found machines back to their former glory, both inside and out.
Others are caretakers, dutifully maintaining hundreds of vehicles lining the warehouse so that they are always ready to go.
At the Communication Plaza built in 1998, many of these precious machines now stand proudly on display in their original condition.
Even today, 25 years after the Plaza opened, this labor of love to find and restore pieces of Yamaha’s legacy continues.
All to ensure the history of Yamaha Motor remains alive and ready to roll in the future.
What’s New
- September 10, 2024
- NEW! Backstage at the Communication Plaza
- July 10, 2024
- Interview with a Former Owner
- June 25, 2024
- Interview with the Restoration Team. HANAI Shinichi, HOSOYA Yukihiro
- April 10, 2024
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Historic Model Demonstration Run 2023 Report
A Day Spent Up Close with Yamaha Motor’s Heritage
- February 12, 2024
- Interview with the Restoration Team. NAKAMURA Ikuo, ISHII Satoshi
- December 25, 2023
- The Goal of Restoring and Preserving Historical Products
- December 11, 2023
- What Goes into a Restoration?
- September 29, 2023
- Site open
Interview with the Restoration Team
The historical machines on display at the Communication Plaza
are preserved through restoration and maintenance.
In charge of this work are a team of four craftsmen
at Yamaha Motor’s Toyooka Technical Center.
Interview with the Plaza Manager
The Communication Plaza is a place where the history of Yamaha Motor’s Monozukuri can be understood at glance, from old classics to the latest offerings. We spoke with MATSUO Akito, who heads the facility’s operations today.
The Goal of Restoring and Preserving Historical Products
Yamaha Motor continues to source and restore historically significant products it has manufactured, keeping them in running condition to boot. But do you know the true goal of this task?
What Goes into a Restoration?
Do you know how many processes are required to completely restore a single vehicle? The restoration team members explained the entire process in detail!
Historic Model Demonstration Run 2023 Report
A Day Spent Up Close with Yamaha Motor’s Heritage
Introducing some of the scenes and words from participants from the Communication Plaza’s 25th Anniversary Commemorative Historic Model Demonstration Run that was held at Fukuroi Test Course.
Interview with a Former Owner
A former owner who donated his machine to the Plaza made his first visit to the restoration workshop. He shares his thoughts having handed over the old bike that he carefully maintained for so many years.
Backstage at the Communication Plaza
In addition to motorcycles, many other Yamaha products are on display at the Plaza and we frequently plan and put on special exhibitions as well. We asked the staff members who remain ever busy preparing these exhibits what kind of hopes and passions they bring to such projects.