Maker record
Diapet
Diapet is a Japanese brand of miniature vehicles introduced by Yonezawa Toys in 1965. Its first models were die-cast cars, and the range later continued under Agatsuma after Yonezawa transferred the die-cast car trademark in 2000. The brand therefore spans successive makers, with Yonezawa responsible for its launch and Agatsuma for later production.
- Founded
- 1965
- Countries
- Japan
- Locations
- Japan
- Founders
- Yonezawa Toys Co. Ltd.
The story of Diapet
Yonezawa Toys began manufacturing and selling die-cast miniature cars under the Diapet brand on 9 August 1965. A specialist account traces the company’s earlier history to Yonezawa Shoten, a toy wholesaler opened in Tokyo in 1932 by Yoshitaka Yonezawa. It says the company took over the remaining molds of the Cherica Phoenix miniature-car series after Taiseyo Tsushin Toys stopped operating.
In May 1994, Sega acquired Yonezawa Toys, which became Sega-Yonezawa; Sega’s corporate timeline records Sega-Yonezawa joining the Sega Group in July that year. In March 2000, Yonezawa transferred the Diapet die-cast car trademark to Agatsuma and withdrew from the toy business. Diapet continued under Agatsuma, so the end of Yonezawa’s toy business did not mark the end of the brand.