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The end of Naoki Yamakaji’s third tenure in Morristown is coming to an end.

Yamakaji, president of Tuff Torq Corporation, was honored Tuesday in an event at the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce.

In this three stints in Morristown, Yamakaji has proven integral to not only the operations of Tuff Torq, but to his adopted community as well.

On Tuesday, he was recognized by HC*EXCELL for Tuff Torq’s contribution to area education under his leadership as well as by Marshall Ramsey, president of the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce and by Morristown Mayor Gary Chesney, who presented Yamakaji with a key to the city of Morristown.

“When Tuff Torq chose Morristown, they paved the way as our first Japanese company,” Ramsey said. “Our community was fortunate that one young man, Naoki Yamakaji, came as a sales engineer for the start up of the company.

“Mr. Yamakaji has returned a couple times as President of Tuff Torq and while we are sad to see him leave Morristown, we know that he will represent not only Tuff Torq but the entirety of Hamblen County well in Japan.

“I have gotten to know Mr. Yamakaji over the years and when he has been stationed in Japan, he has helped to arrange my visits and I look forward to seeing him again soon!

“Yamakaji first came to Morristown in 1989 for the Tuff Torq start up. He served as a sales engineer before returning to Japan in 1992.”

He returned to Morristown in 2013, as he was named president of Tuff Torq, serving in 2015.

During that time Tuff Torq added 29 new jobs and saw capital investments of $7.476 million.

The company saw a sales increase of $40 million over that time.

Civically, Tuff Torq donated 10 Yoshino Cherry trees for Wayne Hansard Park.

In 2019, Yamakaji was again appointed TTC president, a tenure that will end as he returns to Japan this month.

During his most recent tenure, 98 jobs were added and capital investments were made of $27.5 million. TTC saw a sales increase of $79 million during this time.

Over this latest round of service, Yamakaji oversaw the creation of a new scholarship program for ETSU. TTC will award two $1,000 scholarships a year for ETSU students.

Additionally, 81 Yoshino Cherry Trees were donated for Fulton Hill Park.

Chesney said is was an honor to get to recognize Yamakaji’s contributions and that the key to the City of Morristown is not something that is given out very often.

“Very rarely do we give that key to the city,” Chesney said. “I told him ‘I don’t think the key will open many doors, but it will open the hearts of many who appreciate the work you’ve done in Tuff Torq and in our community.’”