“Making Kawai the sound heard around the world was our vision, but making Kawai the sound preferred around the world is our ultimate goal.”
Shigeru Kawai

Shigeru Kawai — Let’s speed things up — Modernize the manufacture process

With Japan’s economy improving, Shigeru foresaw rapid growth in the musical instrument industry. He combined hand-craft technique with the finest technology by construction of two new factories, one a wood processing plant and the other a piano assembly plant using the company’s first modern production line. Kawai’s production capability and manufacturing expertise grew exponentially in the years that followed
“Making Kawai the sound heard around the world was our vision, but making Kawai the sound preferred around the world is our ultimate goal.” Shigeru Kawai

The perfect “marriage” of hand-craftsmanship and advanced technology

This year, Kawai Pianos celebrates the 40th anniversary of the founding of its state-of-the-art Ryuyo piano factory. Ryuyo was built by Shigeru Kawai, Kawai’s second president, in 1980 and stands as a testament of his vision of creating a space where all of Kawai’s knowledge could be collected and where the skills of its craftsmen could be passed on to future generations. Ryuyo is not just an ordinary factory – it is the epicenter of Kawai’s research and innovation, fueling its quest to build the finest pianos in the world. By integrating generations-old handcrafting techniques and modern production technologies and materials, Shigeru Kawai succeeded in delivering what many consider to be the most advanced piano-building facility in the world.

In 1989, the presidency of the company was passed to Shigeru’s son, Hirotaka Kawai. Hirotaka began with a pledge to carry on the commitment to excellence established by his father and grandfather.

Later, he oversaw the development and introduction of Kawai’s internationally-acclaimed RX Series Artist Grand Pianos….From generation to generation, the Kawai vision continues….

Hirotaka Kawai — “At Kawai, the quest for perfection is not just an ideal… but a duty”

INTRODUCING ABS-CARBON

ABS-Carbon, the new composite material in our revolutionary Millennium III Action, combines the long-term stability of ABS Styran (a composite used in Kawai actions for over 40 years) with the extraordinary strength of carbon fiber. ABS-Carbon produces more dynamic power, greater durability, improved control and unparalleled speed to enhance the playing experience.

WHY CARBON FIBER?

Carbon fiber has been called the lightest, strongest material on earth. In Kawai pianos, it allows a lighter design that helps to make our Millennium III Action tremendously fast and effortless to play while sustaining exceptional tone. The rigid character of ABS-Carbon also offers pianists more power with less effort. Its resistance to shrinking and swelling helps to provide these benefits consistently over many years – something conventional wood components are unable to deliver.

NEOTEX™ KEY SURFACES

Kawai’s exclusive NEOTEX key surface material made of cellulose fiber offers the smooth, understated texture of natural ivory and ebony – and a semi-porous, silica-filled surface to absorb the hand’s natural oils and perspiration. Since NEOTEX is used for both the sharps and naturals, the feel of the keys is consistent across the entire keyboard. NEOTEX resists cracking and fading over years of use – and is static-resistant to help prevent the build-up of unwanted dust. The result is a beautiful, long-lasting key surface with exceptional playability.

”LESS”