Yonex Sporting Goods

Yonex is a world-renowned manufacturer of sporting equipment, particularly dominant in badminton, tennis, and golf. The brand got its start in April 1946 when Minoru Yoneyama founded Yoneyama Company, a producer of wooden floats for fishing nets. As technology evolved, the company pivoted into the sporting goods industry, launching its first badminton racquets in 1957. Over the decades, the Tokyo-based company rebranded as Yonex and became a pioneer in using carbon graphite and isometric racquet heads, which revolutionized the speed and power of the sport.

While the brand's premium high-end racquets and professional-grade shuttlecocks are still manufactured in Japan to ensure strict quality control, the company has expanded its manufacturing footprint to other regions. High-volume apparel, footwear, and entry-level equipment are often produced in countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Today, Yonex remains an independent Japanese corporation, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and is considered the ultimate authority in badminton technology globally.