Kawasaki introduced the WSAA and WSAB in 1973, the world's first stand-up Jet Ski watercraft. Both featured the same two-stroke, twin-cylinder water-cooled engine, which was originally made for a Kawasaki snowmobile. The two models were a limited production model before Kawasaki brought Jet Skis into mass production in 1976 with the JS400.

The JS400 is credited for introducing the sport to the world. It boasted 27 horsepower and was impressively fast with its top speed of 31mph. For comparison, after 37 years of Kawasaki Jet Skis the engine's have increased to 80hp and the top speed to 49mph. So, the JS400 was still pretty impressive, especially for being from 1976.

Since then, the personal watercraft has evolved into a high-performance machine featuring innovation in engine and hull technology. Kawasaki Jet Skis are used widely for sport, recreation, and water safety. Kawasaki, in recent years, has committed itself to developing quiet, low-emission engines, like their 4-stroke STX-12F.