“What country is Buffalo from?” Have you ever wondered about that?
Many people have likely seen the name on PCs, Wi-Fi routers, or external HDDs, but don’t know much about the company itself.
In this article, we will clearly summarize Buffalo’s nationality, history, and key features.
Ms.GadgetsI think there are actually quite a lot of people who know the products but don’t know anything about the company itself.
What you’ll learn in this article!
This article is also available as a video on YouTube!
What country is Buffalo from?
Buffalo is a Japanese company
Buffalo is a Japanese company with its headquarters located in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
- Buffalo is a long-standing Japanese manufacturer
- Headquarters is in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
- It also has a headquarters in Tokyo and is stable as a publicly traded company
It was founded in 1975 by Makoto Maki in Nagoya as “Melco” and was incorporated in 1978. In 2003, it changed its trade name to “Buffalo Inc.” and has continued its operations in Japan to this day.
Ms.GadgetsBuffalo sounds like an overseas brand, but it’s a Japanese company?
Mr.GadgetsYes. It has been headquartered in Japan since its founding.
Nagoya headquarters and community ties
The headquarters is located in Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, which is also where the company was founded.
It continues to conduct business rooted in the local community and has deepened its ties with the local economy.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Trade Name | BUFFALO INC. |
| Nagoya HQ Address | Akamon-dori Bldg., 3-30-20 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 460-8315 |
Ms.GadgetsI think the fact that their headquarters is still in the place where they were founded is proof that they value the local community!
Tokyo headquarters and stability as a publicly traded company
It also has a headquarters in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, adopting a dual-headquarters system.
This makes it easier to handle nationwide expansion and overseas business, and because it is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market and the Nagoya Stock Exchange Premier Market, it maintains high management transparency and stability.
Ms.GadgetsWhat are the benefits of a dual-headquarters system?
Mr.GadgetsHaving bases in major cities makes it easier to gather talent and information.
The history of Buffalo
Key points of this section!
Buffalo was founded in 1975 as “Melco” and started as a manufacturer of high-end audio equipment.
In 1981, it entered the PC peripherals market and has contributed significantly to the digitization of Japan.
In 2003, it changed its name to its current corporate name and has continued to grow in a wide range of fields, including network equipment and storage.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Founded Melco in Nagoya (High-end audio equipment) |
| 1981 | Entered the PC peripherals market |
| 2000 | Launched “AirStation” wireless LAN |
| 2003 | Changed trade name to BUFFALO INC. |
| 2017 | Started data recovery service |
Transformation from an audio manufacturer
At the time of its founding, the company developed and sold high-end audio equipment.
It gained popularity with turntables for analog records and amplifiers, and that technology is still being utilized in the development of IT equipment today.
Ms.GadgetsGoing from audio to PC peripherals is quite a change in genre.
Mr.GadgetsIndeed. But that flexibility is what led to its current growth.
Entry into PC peripherals
In 1981, the company entered the PC peripherals market and launched printer buffers and RAM expansion boards. These products resolved the inconveniences of the PC environment at the time and garnered support from many users.
Ms.GadgetsSo they’ve been helping PC users for that long.
Name change and brand unification
In 2003, the company changed its trade name from Melco Inc. to Buffalo Inc. The name “Buffalo” is derived from their hit product, the printer buffer, and also carries the meaning of “moving forward powerfully.”
Key features of Buffalo
Key points of this section!
Buffalo develops products in a wide range of fields, including network equipment, storage, memory, and peripherals.
With their “AirStation” Wi-Fi routers—which have sold over 60 million units cumulatively—and data recovery services that even support products from other companies, they possess both technological capabilities and strong support.
| Field | Main Products/Services |
|---|---|
| Network | “AirStation” Wi-Fi routers, management software for businesses |
| Storage | “LinkStation” and “TeraStation” NAS, external HDDs, SSDs |
| Memory | USB memory, memory modules, JEDEC member |
| Support | Data recovery services, easy-to-understand manuals and FAQs |
| Other | “Omoidebako” digital photo albums, etc. |
Ms.GadgetsHaving everything from Wi-Fi to storage is quite reliable!
Data recovery service
Buffalo provides data recovery not only for its own products but also for HDDs, SSDs, and USB memory from other manufacturers. They have established a system where expert technicians handle everything from logical to physical failures.
Ms.GadgetsIt’s rare for a company to support products from other manufacturers.
Summary
Buffalo is a long-standing Japanese manufacturer with headquarters in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. They offer a wide range of products from network equipment to storage and peripherals, earning high praise for both their technological capabilities and their support system.
- Founded in 1975, with many years of proven results
- Cumulative sales of over 60 million Wi-Fi routers
- Data recovery service that supports products from other companies
- Easy-to-use products designed from a user’s perspective
- Stability as a publicly traded company with two domestic bases
Mr.GadgetsLooking at it this way, I think they are a manufacturer that combines solidity and peace of mind.
In particular, the comprehensive after-purchase support is a major factor for peace of mind. A system that you can rely on when you are in trouble is an essential condition for long-term use, in addition to product performance.
Ms.GadgetsSo, does that mean I can feel safe if I choose Buffalo products?
Mr.GadgetsYes. They have the three key elements: reliability, technical capability, and support strength.
For those looking for equipment they can use for a long time, Buffalo is a strong choice.
Thank you for reading until the end!
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This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.
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