Yamaha has a legacy of producing highly regarded wind instruments, drums and of course; world class pianos. Yamaha should also be the first brand that comes to mind when you think of high quality Japanese basses.

I've been a fan of Yamaha basses since the 80's. My first bass was a BB300. Sadly stolen after I maxed it out with BB2000 parts.

I'm in good company when it comes to Yamaha bass worship. Legends like Lee Sklar, John Patitucci, Abe Laborial and Nathan East all own and play  Yamaha. 

In my opinion, Yamaha basses offer the best value for the money on the planet. Straight necks, good electronics, high-quality hardware and finish. 

Beauty is in the air of the beholder. I think they're super sexy. But you don't sit and look at your bass, you play it. From that stand point Yamaha basses are very desirable. They play and  sound great across the fingerboard with no dead spots and across all price ranges.

When my students ask me what bass should I buy, I tell them "Get a Yami. I have a wall full of them".

PS Yamaha basses are also amongst the best bargain vintage basses you'll ever find. You'll pay more than an entry level bass but you will get thousands of dollars of real world value.