Yonex
Japan
Yonex is a Japanese sports equipment and apparel company founded in 1946 by Minoru Yoneyama, best known for badminton and tennis rackets. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (code 7906) and sells worldwide through subsidiaries.
| Founded | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Minoru Yoneyama |
| Headquarters | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Listing | Tokyo Stock Exchange (7906) |
| Segment | Sportswear and outdoor |
| Website | yonex.com |
What is Yonex?
Yonex is a Japanese manufacturer of sports equipment and related apparel. Its range covers badminton and tennis rackets, shuttlecocks, tennis balls, bags, golf clubs, athletic shoes and apparel. It is headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo.
History
Minoru Yoneyama founded the business in 1946, initially making wooden floats for fishing nets. It was incorporated in 1958 and introduced its first Yoneyama-branded racket in 1961 and a tennis racket in 1971. The 1982 REX-series oversized tennis racket was used by Martina Navratilova, and the 1992 Isometric 500 widebody racket helped popularise square-head badminton frames. The company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1994 (code 7906).
Products and positioning
Yonex is positioned as a performance equipment specialist, with racket sports at its core and apparel and footwear as extensions of the brand. It sponsors the All England Open badminton championships and partners with the Badminton World Federation.
Business model and distribution
The company serves customers worldwide through subsidiaries, among them Yonex Corporation in the United States, Yonex UK, Yonex GmbH, Yonex Taiwan, Yonex Canada and Yonex Golf China. Its Wikipedia entry names no controlling shareholder, and lists Alyssa Yoneyama as chairman.
Why it matters
Yonex is one of the leading global brands in racket sports and an example of an equipment maker that has extended into apparel through its sporting credentials rather than through fashion positioning.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Yonex?
Yonex is a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (code 7906). The source reviewed names no controlling owner.
Where is Yonex from?
Yonex is from Japan. Minoru Yoneyama founded it in 1946, and the company is headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo.