Inside Kawai

Kawai founded in Hamamatsu

Koichi Kawai begins crafting pianos and makes the first piano action designed in Japan

First grand piano made

Koichi Kawai Blue Ribbon Medal
Koichi Kawai first person in the industry to be awarded the Blue Ribbon Medal

Shigeru Kawai, President of Kawai
He succeeds Koichi Kawai at the age of just 33 and pioneers new manufacturing techniques

Kawai Electronic Organs
Kawai enters the digital age with its first non-acoustic musical instruments

Kawai Academy of Music founded
Many thousands of students have attended Kawai Music Schools across Japan

Aluminium Actions Rails
Kawai introduces actions rails made of aluminium

ABS
ABS is first introduced in Kawai upright piano actions

Kawai Publishing launched
Musical score and sheet music publishing

ABS
ABS carbon fibre is utilised in Kawai grand piano actions

Grand Piano Factory and Piano Research Lab established in Ryuyo, Japan
Recognised as one of the most high-tech and efficient piano factories in the world

Aluminium Action Brackets
Kawai introduces die cast aluminium action brackets

Kawai Australia established
Distribution, sales and technical support facility opens to serve Australia & New Zealand

Carbon Fibre
Exclusive ABS carbon fibre Black Jack introduced on Kawai grand piano actions

Kawai Digital Pianos launched
Kawai digital pianos added to product line up

Hirotaka Kawai, President of Kawai
Shigeru’s son, Hirotaka, continues the family tradition and leads the company to this day

Shigeru Kawai becomes Chairman

Lowrey Organ Company
One of the leading musical instruments companies in the USA purchased by Kawai

Kawai Asia
Manufacturing for the Asian market begins in Malaysia

Kawai America
Manufacturing begins in the USA​

ISO 14001 Environmental Certification
First in the piano manufacturing industry to achieve this level of environmental management

Japan Institute of Good Design
Awarded for the Kawai Ku-50 digital piano range

Shigeru Kawai Concert Grands
Kawai’s handcrafted, limited edition grand piano concert series is created at Ryuyo

Kawai Karawan
State of the art manufacturing facility opened in Karawan, Indonesia​

Millennium III Action
The incredibly responsive action with carbon fibre parts, designed and patented by Kawai

MMR Piano Range of the Year

Awarded by the leading US musical instruments magazine, MMR, to the Kawai RX series of grand pianos

MMR Acoustic of the Year
Awarded not once, but four years in a row to K-3 Upright, Acoustic Piano of the Year

New Series Shigeru Kawai Concert grands

Kawai GX Professional Series released

Extended Keysticks
For improved balance and responsiveness, introduced in the new GX Series grand pianos

Kawai new K Series released

MMR Award
MP Series – Professional Digital Piano Line of the Year

MMR Award
CN Series – Product Excellence Award

Kawai wins at NAMM
Kawai CS-10 Hybrid Digital Piano wins Music Editor’s Choice at NAMM in the US

Kawai Today
Employing 4000 people and creating superb pianos for customers across the world

Kawai GL Grand piano series released