Yonezawa Toys (Y) Tin Lithographed Battery Operated “D-63 Diamond” Speed Boat Japanese Toy Boat *SOLD*

Yonezawa Toys (Y) Tin Lithographed Battery Operated “D-63 Diamond” Speed Boat Japanese Toy Boat  

This piece is a vintage tin, lithographed, battery operated “D-63 Diamond” speed boat that was manufactured by Yonezawa Toys of Tokyo, Japan. 

This is a working battery-operated speed boat, that when switched on the propeller turns. The motor is very strong; however, we did find it won’t work on a standard 1.5v battery, but it like 3v just fine.  

Our example of this Yonezawa speed boat is in great all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch ups. This piece shows the usual patina, fading, dust, chips, scuffs, surface rust, scratches, and wear that are to be expected from age and play. It is approximately 9” L x 3” W. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.    

A brief history of Yonezawa Toys Co. Ltd.  (Y) of Tokyo, Japan: 

Yonezawa Toys (米澤玩具 Yonezawa Gangu) (known also as Yone or simply Y) was founded in the 1950’s in Tokyo. It was one of Japan’s largest and most prodigious post-war toy manufacturers and an early participant in the growing radio control market. 

The company and focused on the production of thousands of different electrically operated and mechanical toys through the early 1970’s. Some were branded not as Yonezawa but as STS. It is unclear as to the origin of the STS label, but it is presumed to be that of an importer. Yonezawa briefly dabbled in radio control in the mid-1980’s with the introduction of the 1/10-scale Wave Hunter buggy, sold in North America as the Monogram Lightning. 

Under Sega’s leadership, Yonezawa Toys was briefly known as Sega-Yonezawa until the Yonezawa branding was dropped entirely in April 1998. Once Sega Sammy Holdings was formed, Sega Toys was reorganized under Sega’s entertainment contents business. 

Since the early 2000’s, Sega Toys markets itself distinctively from the Sega brand, with some occasional collaboration between the two. An example of their collaboration is Sega and Sega Toys producing the UFO Catcher prize games jointly, where Sega manufactures the arcade equipment, while Sega Toys produces the prizes. (From Wikipedia)