TOGO

TOGO (株式会社トーゴ, Kabushiki-gaisha Tōgo) was a Japanese amusement ride company that built roller coasters, giant wheels, carousels, flumes, dark rides, sky cycles and other amusement rides.

TOGO
Native name
Toyo Goraku Ki Kabushiki Kaisha
FormerlyToyo Gorakuki
IndustryAmusement rides
FateBankruptcy
Founded1935 (1935)
FounderTeiichi Yamada
Defunct2001 (original) (2001 (original))
Area served
Worldwide (Excluding Western Hemisphere)
ProductsRoller coasters
Websitehttp://www.tohgo.co.jp/
Fujiyama, a TOGO hypercoaster

History

In 1935 Mr. Teiichi Yamada founded the Toyo Gorakuki Company and built his first attraction, a five-foot mechanical walking elephant that was a popular attraction at one of Tokyo's neighborhood parks.[1] Yamada reorganized his company in 1949 and changed the name to TOGO. TOGO built its first roller coaster in 1953 at Hanayashiki Park in Tokyo. That coaster is still in operation and is the oldest coaster in Japan.[1]

In 1965 TOGO built Cyclone at Toshimaen Park that at the time was the largest coaster in Asia. The company also began to expand its export business, selling coasters in Russia, Cuba and China.[1] Although the company built a variety of different rides in Japan, its export business was primarily roller coasters. In 1979, TOGO installed standup trains on two of its existing coasters in Japan, Momonga Standing & Loop Coaster, at Yomiuriland and Thrill Valley, creating the world's first Stand-up roller coasters. These two installations captured the attention of Taft/Kings Entertainment company, who then purchased TOGO's Astro-Comet, the world's first coaster designed from the ground up as a stand-up roller coaster, installing at Kings Island as King Cobra.[1]

In 1986 TOGO developed the Ultra Twister Coaster. This unique concept had rails on the side of the vehicle allowing the coaster to perform true heartline rolls as it navigated the course. TOGO also incorporated a vertical lift hill and near-vertical drop into the ride.[2] TOGO built seven of these models, all similar, but not identical to each other. The original versions were not capable of making turns, so all seven operated as shuttles. However, TOGO did display a full-circuit model at the IAAPA trade show in the mid-1990s that was capable of making turns, but the ride was never built.[2] In the fall of 1989, Arrow Dynamics began building a similar concept called the Pipeline, which failed to get past the prototype stage.[3]

TOGO went bankrupt in 2001 due to a lawsuit by Knott's Berry Farm for problems with their Windjammer Surf Racers roller coaster. TOGO created several unique coasters, including its combination of a looping sit-down coaster and a hypercoaster with its Manhattan Express coaster in Las Vegas (now known as "The Big Apple Coaster"). The looping wild mouse by TOGO was a style of ride with a drop into a vertical loop, followed by the hairpin turns and drops of a wild mouse coaster. The former Windjammer coaster at Knott's berry Farm was a variation of the looping wild mouse; it didn't feature any hairpin turns.

TOGO is also renowned for inventing the Twist-and-Dive roll, an inversion maneuver that combines elements of a half-heartline roll with a half-loop. A version of this maneuver included a half-oblique loop instead of a half-loop, so riders exited the element at an angle. This was used on the now-defunct Viper at Six Flags Great Adventure.

In 2018, TOGO announced a possible comeback after releasing a concept of their new stand up coaster model.

Notable rides

  • Bandit at Yomiuriland – It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened in 1988 and inspired Richard Kinzel of Cedar Point to build Magnum XL 200.[4]
  • Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York Hotel & Casino (first opened in 1997 as the "Manhattan Express").
  • Freestyle is a stand-up roller coaster operating at Cavallino Matto in Tuscany, Italy. It opened as the park's fifth roller coaster on 18 July 2015. Freestyle originally opened at Canada's Wonderland in 1985 as SkyRider
  • Fujiyama – A hypercoaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Japan. Until 2000, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world.
  • King Cobra at Kings Island (1984–2001) – The world's first coaster designed specifically to be a stand-up looping coaster. It was taken down and scrapped after TOGO went out of business, making parts very expensive.
  • ShockwaveKings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia. Built in 1986 Specifically for Kings Dominion, was retired August 9, 2015.
  • SkyRiderCanada's Wonderland Opening date May 1985, retired in 2014 dismantled and sent to Italy.
  • Ultra Twister – A pipeline roller coaster that uses single cars that ride between the rails. Because of the design, the cars are unable to make lateral turns and require switch tracks at either end of the ride.
  • Viper at Six Flags Great Adventure – A roller coaster that featured a unique heartline roll. The ride was scrapped in 2005, and its station was re-used for El Toro.
  • White Canyon at Yomiuriland – White Canyon was the tallest and longest Cyclone-style roller coaster in the world before it closed in 2013.
  • Windjammer Surf Racers at Knott's Berry Farm – a twin racing coaster with 65-foot vertical loops. This coaster was a massive failure, and part of the lawsuits would lead to TOGO's bankruptcy.

List of roller coasters


As of 2019, TOGO has built 61 roller coasters around the world.[5]

NameModelParkCountryOpenedStatusRef
Jet CoasterSitdown CoasterNagashima Spa Land JapanUnknownOperating[6]
SL CoasterSitdown CoasterYomiuriland JapanUnknownRemoved[7]
Roller CoasterSitdown CoasterBeijing Amusement Park ChinaUnknownRemoved[8]
Zola 7Sitdown CoasterFuji-Q Highland JapanUnknownRemoved[9]
Diving ShooterSitdown CoasterItozu No Mori Park JapanUnknownRemoved[10]
Cycle CoasterCycle CoasterEnakyo Wonderland JapanUnknownOperating[11]
Jet CoasterSitdown CoasterKagoshima Jungle Land JapanUnknownRemoved[12]
Crazy MouseLooping MouseKagoshima Jungle Land JapanUnknownRemoved[13]
Jungle MouseWild Mouse CoasterYoshinogawa Yuenchi JapanUnknownRemoved[14]
Unknown
Formerly Ultra Twister
Ultra TwisterSix Flags America
Six Flags AstroWorld
Six Flags Great Adventure
United StatesUnknown
1990 to 2005
1986 to 1988
Removed[15]
[16]
[17]
Roller CoasterSitdown CoasterHanayashiki Japan1953Operating[18]
Jet CoasterSitdown CoasterTokyo Dome City Japan1955Removed[19]
CycloneSitdown CoasterToshimaen Japan1965Removed[20]
Diving CoasterSitdown CoasterGrinPa Japan1973Removed[21]
BobsterBobsterTakakonuma Greenland Japan1973Removed[22]
Jet CoasterSitdown CoasterYatsu Yuenchi Japan1976Removed[23]
Momonga Standing and Loop Coaster
Formerly Standing and Loop Coaster
Stand-Up Coaster & Sitdown CoasterYomiuriland Japan1979Operating[24]
Crazy MouseLooping MouseTobu Zoo Park Japan1981Removed[25]
BobsterBobsterShirakaba Resort Family Land Japan1982Operating[26]
DangaiStand-Up CoasterThrill Valley Japan1982Removed[27]
Ultra TwisterUltra TwisterNagashima Spa Land Japan1984Operating[28]
King CobraStand-Up CoasterKings Island United States1984Removed[29]
Standing CoasterStand-Up CoasterRusutsu Resort
Otaru Expo
Japan1985
1984
Operating[30]
[31]
Ultra TwisterUltra TwisterTokyo Dome City Japan1985Removed[32]
Montaña RusaBobsterParque Lenin Cuba1985Removed[33]
ShockwaveStand-Up CoasterKings Dominion United States1986Removed[34]
Pink Typhoon Standing Coaster
Formerly Star Jet
Stand-Up CoasterBrazilian Park Washuzan Highland
Tsukuba Expo
Japan1986
1985
Operating[35]
[36]
BanditSitdown CoasterYomiuriland Japan1988Operating[37]
SL CoasterSitdown CoasterMinamichita Beach Land & Minamichita Toy Kingdom Japan1989Removed[38]
UnknownSitdown CoasterFantasy Dome Tomakomai Japan1990Removed[39]
Milky Way
Formerly Fujin-Raijin
Formerly Ultra Twin
Stand-Up Coaster & Sitdown CoasterGreenland Japan1991Operating[40]
Ultra TwisterUltra TwisterBrazilian Park Washuzan Highland Japan1991Operating[41]
Fujin Raijin IIStand-Up CoasterExpoland Japan1992Removed[42]
GeopanicSitdown CoasterTokyo Dome City Japan1992Removed[43]
Super Roller Coaster DIOSSitdown CoasterOdakyu Mukogaoka Yuen Japan1992Removed[44]
Aladdin CoasterSitdown CoasterAliba City Japan1992Removed[45]
Surf Coaster Leviathan
Formerly Surf Coaster
Sitdown CoasterSea Paradise Japan1993Operating[46]
Ultra TwisterUltra TwisterRusutsu Resort
World Food Festival
Japan1994
1988
Operating[47]
[48]
UnknownSitdown CoasterFantasy Dome Seiro Japan1994Removed[49]
UnknownSitdown CoasterFantasy Dome Kishiwada Japan1994Removed[50]
Ultra Twister MegatonUltra TwisterGreenland Japan1994Operating[51]
White CanyonWooden CoasterYomiuriland Japan1994Removed[52]
ClipperSitdown CoasterSpace World Japan1995Removed[53]
ViperSitdown CoasterSix Flags Great Adventure United States1995Removed[54]
FujiyamaSitdown CoasterFuji-Q Highland Japan1996Operating[55]
Mega CoasterSitdown CoasterHamanako Pal Pal Japan1997Operating[56]
Big Apple Coaster
Formerly The Roller Coaster
Formerly Manhattan Express
Sitdown CoasterNew York, New York Hotel & Casino United States1997Operating[57]
Windjammer Surf Racers
Formerly Jammer
Looping MouseKnott's Berry Farm United States1997Removed[58]
Kiddy ShuttleKiddy ShuttleThrill Valley Japan1998Removed[59]
Crazy MouseLooping MouseKitami Family Land
Nakajima Park
Japan2000
Unknown
Operating[60]
[61]
Hyper Kid CoasterSitdown CoasterFantasy Dome Japan2000Closed[62]
Flounder's Flying Fish CoasterSitdown CoasterTokyo DisneySea Japan2001Operating[63]
Rushing CarWild Mouse CoasterKashiikaen Yuenchi Japan2002Removed[64]
Actpo KometaSitdown CoasterMaviland
Metalworkers' Palace
Russia2002
1992 to 2000
Operating[65]
[66]
Loop ScrewSitdown CoasterSeibuen Yuenchi Japan2004Removed[67]
Go Go SneakerSitdown CoasterRusutsu Resort
Kintetsu Ayameike
Japan2005
Unknown
Operating[68]
[69]
Hurricane - Screw & Loop Coaster
Formerly Tornado
Sitdown CoasterHimeji Central Park
Kintetsu Ayameike
Japan2007
1981 to 2004
Operating[70]
[71]
Ultra Coaster
Formerly Ultra Twister
Ultra TwisterMarah Land Sabahiya
Ikoma Skyland
Kuwait2008
2004 to 2006
Removed[72]
[73]
Bledek Coaster
Formerly Loop & Cork
Looping MouseSuroboyo Carnival Night Market
Jawa Timur Park 2
Maruyama KidLand
Indonesia2014
Unknown
Unknown
Operating[74]
[75]
[76]
Grand Canyon
Formerly Cobra
Formerly Kiddy Shuttle
Kiddy ShuttleParc de la Vallée
Lunapark Fréjus
Odakyu Mukogaoka Yuen
France2014
2004 to 2011
1998 to 2002
Operating[77]
[78]
[79]
Freestyle
Formerly SkyRider
Stand-Up CoasterCavallino Matto
Canada's Wonderland
Italy2015
1985 to 2014
Operating[80]
[81]

References

  1. Ruben, Paul (1988). "Innovative thrills from TOGO". RollerCoaster! Magazine. Vol. 9 no. 3. Chicago, Illinois: American Coaster Enthusiasts. pp. 50–53. ISSN 0896-7261.
  2. Seifert, Jeffrey (2007). "The first pipeline coaster — Ultra Twister". RollerCoaster! Magazine. Vol. 28 no. 2. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts. pp. 50–53. ISSN 0896-7261.
  3. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40141
  4. Holmes, Scott; Holmes, Carol (2009). "20 years of Magnum". RollerCoaster! Magazine. Vol. 30 no. 4. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts. pp. 4–11. ISSN 0896-7261.
  5. TOGO - rcdb.com
  6. Marden, Duane. "Jet Coaster  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  7. Marden, Duane. "SL Coaster  (Yomiuriland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster  (Beijing Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Zola 7  (Fuji-Q Highland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Diving Shooter  (Itozu No Mori Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Cycle Coaster  (Enakyo Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Jet Coaster  (Kagoshima Jungle Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  13. Marden, Duane. "Crazy Mouse  (Kagoshima Jungle Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  14. Marden, Duane. "Jungle Mouse  (Yoshinogawa Yuenchi)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Six Flags AstroWorld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  17. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  18. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster  (Hanayashiki)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Jet Coaster  (Tokyo Dome City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  20. Marden, Duane. "Cyclone  (Toshimaen)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  21. Marden, Duane. "Diving Coaster  (GrinPa)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  22. Marden, Duane. "Bobster  (Takakonuma Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  23. Marden, Duane. "Jet Coaster  (Yatsu Yuenchi)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  24. Marden, Duane. "Momonga Standing and Loop Coaster  (Yomiuriland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  25. Marden, Duane. "Crazy Mouse  (Tobu Zoo Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  26. Marden, Duane. "Bobster  (Shirakaba Resort Family Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  27. Marden, Duane. "Dangai  (Thrill Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  28. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  29. Marden, Duane. "King Cobra  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  30. Marden, Duane. "Standing Coaster  (Rusutsu Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  31. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Otaru Expo)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  32. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Tokyo Dome City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  33. Marden, Duane. "Montaña Rusa  (Parque Lenin)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  34. Marden, Duane. "Shockwave  (Kings Dominion)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  35. Marden, Duane. "Star Jet  (Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  36. Marden, Duane. "Star Jet  (Tsukuba Expo)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  37. Marden, Duane. "Bandit  (Yomiuriland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  38. Marden, Duane. "SL Coaster  (Minamichita Beach Land & Minamichita Toy Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  39. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Fnatasy Dome Tomakomai)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  40. Marden, Duane. "Milky Way  (Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  41. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  42. Marden, Duane. "Fujin Raijin II  (Expoland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  43. Marden, Duane. "Geopanic  (Tokyo Dome City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  44. Marden, Duane. "Super Roller Coaster DIOS  (Odakyu Mukogaoka Yuen)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  45. Marden, Duane. "Aladdin Coaster  (Aliba City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  46. Marden, Duane. "Surf Coaster Leviathan  (Sea Paradise)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  47. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Rusutsu Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  48. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (World Food Festival)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  49. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Fantasy Dome Seiro)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  50. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Fantasy Dome Kishiwada)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  51. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister Megaton  (Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  52. Marden, Duane. "White Canyon  (Yomiuriland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  53. Marden, Duane. "Clipper  (Space World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  54. Marden, Duane. "Viper  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  55. Marden, Duane. "Fujiyama  (Fuji-Q Highland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  56. Marden, Duane. "Mega Coaster  (Hamanako Pal Pal)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  57. Marden, Duane. "Big Apple Coaster  (Toshimaen)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  58. Marden, Duane. "Windjammer SurF Racers  (Knott's Berry Farm)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  59. Marden, Duane. "Kiddy Shuttle  (Thrill Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  60. Marden, Duane. "Crazy Mouse  (Kitami Family Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  61. Marden, Duane. "Crazy Mouse  (Nakajima Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  62. Marden, Duane. "Hyper Kid Coaster  (Fantasy Dome)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  63. Marden, Duane. "Flounder's Flying Fish Coaster  (Tokyo DisneySea)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  64. Marden, Duane. "Rushing Car  (Kashiikaen Yuenchi)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  65. Marden, Duane. "Actpo Kometa  (Maviland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  66. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Metalworkers' Palace)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  67. Marden, Duane. "Loop Screw  (Seibuen Yuenchi)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  68. Marden, Duane. "Go Go Sneaker  (Rusutsu Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  69. Marden, Duane. "Go Go Sneaker  (Kinetetsu Ayameike)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  70. Marden, Duane. "Hurricane Screw & Loop Coaster  (Himeji Central Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  71. Marden, Duane. "Tornado  (Kintetsu Ayameike)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  72. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Coaster  (Marah Land Sabahiya)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  73. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Ikoma Skyland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  74. Marden, Duane. "Bledek Coaster  (Suroboyo Carnival Night Market)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  75. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Jawa Timur Park 2)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  76. Marden, Duane. "Loop & Cork  (Maruyama KidLand)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  77. Marden, Duane. "Grand Canyon  (Parc de la Vallée)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  78. Marden, Duane. "Cobra  (Lunapark Fréjus)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  79. Marden, Duane. "Kddy Shuttle  (Odakyu Mukogaoka Yuen)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  80. Marden, Duane. "Freestyle  (Cavallino Matto)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  81. Marden, Duane. "SkyRider  (Canada's Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
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