Yokomo

Yokomo Co. Ltd. (株式会社　ヨコモ, Kabushiki-gaisha Yokomo) is a Japanese company from Adachi, Tokyo that specialize in radio-controlled cars, it was one of the first manufacturers in Japan to build RC cars and it also invented the RTR (Ready To Run) cars, but most notable of all is their long-running "Dog Fighter" series of radio controlled buggies, mainly through its successes in racing.

History

The company became involved in RC car production when the shop, Yokobori Model Shop (横堀モケイはメーカー, Yokobori Mokei Wamēkā), owned by Tomoaki "Tom" Yokobori (横堀モケイ, Yokobori Tom, 横堀智昭), built a ready to run version of Cox's .49ci Dune Buggy, which was sold as a kit. The car became a success and helped to introduced radio controlled cars into Japan.

In 1970, the company would become involved with another US RC car manufacturer, when they imported the RC-1, produced by Associated Electrics, into Japan. As a result, they became involved in the production side of the market, when they manufactured option parts for the car. This was the start of its partnership with Associated which continued to this day.