TOGO

TOGO

Native name	Toyo Goraku Ki Kabushiki Kaisha
Formerly	Toyo Gorakuki
Industry	Amusement rides
Founded	1935
Founder	Teiichi Yamada
Defunct	July 2001
Fate	Bankruptcy
Area served	Worldwide (Excluding Western Hemisphere)
Products	Roller coasters
Website	tohgo.co.jp

was a Japanese manufacturer specializing in amusement rides, including roller coasters, Ferris wheels, carousels, flume rides, dark rides, and sky cycles.

History

Established in 1935 by Teiichi Yamada under the name Toyo Gorakuki, the company’s inaugural attraction was a mechanical walking elephant presented in Tokyo. The firm adopted the TOGO name in 1949 and constructed its first roller coaster at Hanayashiki Park in 1953, recognized as Tokyo’s oldest continuously operating coaster.

By 1965, TOGO had increased its presence across Asia with the Cyclone coaster at Toshimaen Park, which was then the largest roller coaster on the continent. The business also expanded internationally by exporting mainly roller coasters to countries such as Russia, Cuba, and China. In 1979, TOGO pioneered the stand-up roller coaster concept with installations at Yomiuriland and Thrill Valley, gaining worldwide recognition. This innovation led to their debut project in the United States with King Cobra at Kings Island, marking a pivotal point in their global expansion.

In 1986, TOGO unveiled the Ultra Twister Coaster featuring vertical lift hills and side-rail heartline rolls. Due to design limitations, seven shuttle-style models were produced; although a full-circuit prototype was demonstrated, it never entered production. This development highlighted TOGO’s technical expertise in ride design during that era.

Following legal complications related to the Windjammer Surf Racers coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm, TOGO experienced financial difficulties that culminated in bankruptcy proceedings in 2001. Despite this downturn, the company left a lasting impact with distinctive coaster designs such as the Manhattan Express (currently known as The Big Apple Coaster) and innovative inversion elements like the Twist-and-Dive roll.

In 2018, TOGO revealed intentions to return to the amusement ride sector with a novel stand-up coaster concept, indicating a possible revival.

Notable rides

• Bandit at Yomiuriland – Debuted in 1988 as the tallest and fastest coaster worldwide at that time; it influenced Cedar Point’s Magnum XL 200.
• Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York Hotel & Casino – Originally opened as "Manhattan Express" in 1997.
• Freestyle – Europe’s sole stand-up coaster located at Cavallino Matto, Italy since 2015; initially launched as SkyRider at Canada’s Wonderland in 1985.
• Fujiyama – A hypercoaster situated at Fuji-Q Highland, Japan; held the record for world’s tallest until 2000.
• King Cobra at Kings Island (1984–2001) – The first stand-up looping coaster; dismantled after TOGO ceased operations, making components rare.
• Shockwave at Kings Dominion, Virginia – Constructed in 1986; retired from service in 2015.
• Ultra Twister – A distinctive pipeline coaster with single cars traveling between rails, necessitating switch tracks due to its design.
• Viper at Six Flags Great Adventure – Known for its unique heartline roll; removed in 2005 to accommodate El Toro.
• White Canyon at Yomiuriland – Once held records as tallest and longest Cyclone-style wooden coaster before closing in 2013.
• Windjammer Surf Racers at Knott's Berry Farm – A twin racing coaster featuring vertical loops; its operational issues contributed significantly to TOGO’s bankruptcy.

List of roller coasters

By the year 2019, TOGO had completed the construction of 61 roller coasters across the globe.

Name	Model	Park	Country	Opened	Status	Ref
Jet Coaster	Sitdown Coaster	Nagashima Spa Land	Japan	1966	Operating
Cycle Coaster	Cycle Coaster	Enakyo Wonderland	Japan	Unknown	Operating
Crazy Mouse	Looping Mouse II	Kagoshima Jungle Land	Japan	Unknown	Removed
King Cobra	Standing Coaster Astro Comet	Kings Island	United States	1984	Removed
Shockwave	Standing Coaster Custom	Kings Dominion	United States	1986	Removed
Pink Typhoon Standing Coaster Formerly Star Jet	Standing Coaster Astro Comet	Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland	Japan	1986	Operating
Ultra Twister	Ultra Twister I	Nagashima Spa Land	Japan	1989	Operating
Milky Way Formerly Fujin-Raijin	Standing Coaster Custom	Greenland	Japan	1991	Operating
Ultra Twister	Ultra Twister I	Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland	Japan	1991	Operating
Surf Coaster Leviathan Formerly Surf Coaster	Super Roller Coaster	Sea Paradise	Japan	1993	Operating
Ultra Twister Megaton	Ultra Twister I	Greenland	Japan	1994	Operating
White Canyon	Wooden Coaster	Yomiuriland	Japan	1994	Removed
Viper	Mega Coaster	Six Flags Great Adventure	United States	1995	Removed
Fujiyama	Sitdown Coaster	Fuji-Q Highland	Japan	1996	Operating
Mega Coaster	Mega Coaster	Hamanako Pal Pal	Japan	1997	Operating
Big Apple Coaster Formerly Manhattan Express	Mega Coaster	New York, New York Hotel & Casino	United States	1997	Operating