Mitsuo Kasahara

Mitsuo Kasahara served as the first president of Yamaha Corporation of America after setting up the branch office in Southern California in 1961.  Three years earlier he established the first Yamaha office in Mexico as well!  These were the first branches in North America, which led to a period of major growth for the company.  Fun fact: it was Mitsuo-san who was the first Yamaha employee to work in the company's first booth as an exhibitor at the NAMM Show back in 1957.