KAAZ Corporation

KAAZ Corporation (カーツ株式会社) is a Japanese engineering and manufacturing company headquartered in Higashi-ku, Okayama, Japan. Its origins trace to 1922, when a welding shop was opened in Okayama; the business later moved into engine manufacturing and has remained an engine-focused engineering house for roughly a century. The company's stated mission today is to contribute to Japan's defense industry through domestically produced engines. KAAZ's current core business is the planning, development, design and manufacture of small Japanese-made engines for drones (UAVs / unmanned aerial vehicles). This positions the firm within Japan's emerging domestic drone and defense-industrial supply chain, and the company has appeared at events such as Japan Drone and a defense-industry entry exhibition. Alongside this, KAAZ is known in the automotive aftermarket for its limited-slip differentials (LSDs), a product line it began selling in 1994 and which remains associated with motorsport and performance tuning. The company is privately held, with stated capital of 100 million yen and around 106 employees. It is led by President Masakazu Katsuya (勝矢雅一). Its head office and main plant are in Okayama, with a Kyushu sales office in Kumamoto and a Taiwan office established in 1986. KAAZ holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and maintains an environmental policy. It also runs community and brand activities, including a futsal club and an official sponsorship program, and has experimented with newer formats such as a metaverse presence and a company introduction video. Because it is a privately held, mid-sized engineering firm rather than a consumer-facing brand, KAAZ is best understood as a specialized B2B manufacturer: a century-old Okayama engine maker that has pivoted part of its engineering capability toward drone propulsion and defense-related applications while continuing to serve motorsport and automotive customers.

KAAZ Corporation traces its history to 1922, when a welding shop was opened in Okayama, Japan. In 1930 the business began manufacturing agricultural water-cooled engines, marking its entry into engine production. In 1945 the company lost its office and factory to an air raid, and in 1948 it rebuilt the factory and resumed engine production. In 1952 the organization was restructured as Doi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (土肥工業株式会社). In 1970 it changed its name to KAAZ Machinery Co., Ltd. (カーツ機械株式会社), and in 1974 it opened its Kyushu sales office. In 1986 the company adopted its present name, KAAZ Corporation (カーツ株式会社), and established a Taiwan office. In 1994 KAAZ began selling automotive limited-slip differentials (LSDs), a product line that connected the company to the performance and motorsport aftermarket. In 2000 it obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. It marked its 80th anniversary in 2002 and held the KAAZ 60 event in 2009. A development and testing building was completed in 2010, and a third new factory was completed in 2017. In 2022 the company celebrated its 100th anniversary. In recent years KAAZ has emphasized domestically produced small engines for drones (UAVs / unmanned aerial vehicles), describing its mission as contributing to Japan's defense industry through domestic engines. It has exhibited at events including Japan Drone 2025 and a defense-industry entry promotion exhibition in Tokyo. The company has also pursued brand and community activities, including a futsal club, a metaverse initiative, and a company introduction video.

• 2025

  Exhibited at the 3rd Defense Industry Entry Promotion Exhibition and the 10th Japan Drone 2025.

• 2023

  Released a company introduction video and began preparing a metaverse presence; Purple Monster product reservations opened.

• 2022

  Celebrated its 100th anniversary.

• 2017

  Completed the third new factory.

• 2010

  Completed the development and testing building.

• 2009

  Held the KAAZ 60 event.

• 2002

  Celebrated its 80th anniversary.

• 2000

  Obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification.

• 1994

  Began selling automotive limited-slip differentials (LSD).

• 1986

  Renamed KAAZ Corporation; established a Taiwan office.

• 1974

  Opened the Kyushu sales office.

• 1970

  Renamed KAAZ Machinery Co., Ltd.

• 1952

  Reorganized as Doi Kogyo Co., Ltd.

• 1948

  Rebuilt the factory and resumed engine production.

• 1945

  Lost its office and factory to an air raid.

• 1930

  Began manufacturing agricultural water-cooled engines.

• 1922

  Opened a welding shop in Okayama.

A century-old Okayama engineering manufacturer positioning itself as a domestic (Japanese) engine maker for drones and defense-related applications, while also serving the automotive performance and motorsport aftermarket.

• Drone / UAV small engines

  Domestically produced small engines for drones (UAVs / unmanned aerial vehicles), covering planning, development, design and manufacturing.

• Automotive limited-slip differentials (LSD)

  Automotive LSD products sold since 1994, associated with performance tuning and motorsport.

• Purple Monster

  A product line whose initial limited production sold out and for which further production batches were offered by reservation.

1. 1カーツ株式会社 official websitekaaz.co.jp
2. 2会社概要 - カーツ株式会社kaaz.co.jp
3. 3KAAZ Corporation (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org