The history of Tohatsu's engine production dates back to 1922 when the research and development of a small gasoline engine began, which was a first in Japan. Tohatsu engines have been installed in various products such as motorcycles, fishing boats, snow vehicles, fire pumps, and submersible pumps for worldwide markets. In 1956, Tohatsu produced the first outboard motor in Japan, the "OB-2", an air-cooled 1.5 horsepower machine. Since then, Tohatsu has steadily increased brand recognition through the development of original marine products such as two-stroke, four-stroke, and TLDI® outboard motors.