Yokomo

Lore & Background

Tomoaki 'Tom' Yokobori became interested in radio-control models after witnessing people playing with RC aircraft across the Arakawa River, using monthly tuition money for cram school to buy an aircraft. After high school, he started a mail-order scale model retail business, which thrived as model stores were only available in metropolitan areas. His sister helped with overseas logistics, and his parents later assisted. He opened Yokobori Model Shop. In 1970, the company imported the Associated Electrics RC-1 into Japan and began manufacturing option parts, starting a partnership that continues today. In 1974, Yokobori introduced the first radio-controlled specialty store in a department store at a Mitsuboshi store in Nihonbashi, doubling business and leading to another store in Ginza. In 1977, the shop built a ready-to-run version of Cox's 049 Dune Buggy, which helped introduce RC cars to Japan. The company renamed Yokomo, a portmanteau of Yokobori Mokei, and began producing its own competition cars in 1977 with the Mini Racer RC-12. In 1983, it introduced the YZ-834B, the first of the 'Dog Fighter' series. The car was imported into West Germany by Graupner. In 1985, Gil Losi, Jr. used the car to score the company's first IFMAR title. The YZ-870C 'Super Dog Fighter' was jointly developed by Masami Hirosaka, who was brought into the company after his IFMAR victory. Masami's father, Masaaki, was an employee. Yokomo also produced the YR-F2 front-wheel drive chassis, which was banned from certain racetracks for being too fast. In 2003, Yokomo introduced radio-controlled drifting with cars built especially for drifting. In 2008, Yokomo partnered with Tomy to release miniature RC cars based on D1GP and drifting cars. Following Yokobori's retirement, Shigeki Suzuki became CEO on October 1, 2019.

Reader's Guide

Yokomo's significance lies in its pioneering role in the Japanese RC car industry. It was among the first Japanese manufacturers to build their own RC cars and sell upgrade parts, and it invented the option RTR (Ready To Run) car. The company's long-running 'Dog Fighter' series, starting with the YZ-834B in 1983, became its most notable product line. The series achieved international success when Gil Losi, Jr. won the inaugural IFMAR 1:10 Off-Road 4WD World Championship in 1985 driving a Dog Fighter. Masami Hirosaka, who joined the company after his own IFMAR victory, further cemented Yokomo's legacy by winning six IFMAR titles for the company (all his titles except his first, won with a Schumacher CAT, were for Yokomo or its partner Team Associated). Yokomo also made a strong entry into drift RC cars through racing successes. The company's YR-F2 chassis, a full-time front-wheel drive RC, was banned from certain racetracks due to being too fast. In 2003, Yokomo introduced radio-controlled drifting with purpose-built cars, and in 2008 partnered with Tomy for miniature RC cars. The company's history reflects a trajectory from a mail-order model shop to a manufacturer that shaped competitive RC car racing and drifting.

Did You Know?

• Yokomo's name is a portmanteau of 'Yokobori Mokei'.
• The YZ-834B Dog Fighter was imported into West Germany by Graupner and marketed as a Graupner Dog Fighter.
• Masami Hirosaka's father, Masaaki, was an employee of Yokomo.
• The YR-F2 front-wheel drive chassis was banned from certain racetracks because it was too fast for other RC cars.