REQUEST PRE-OWNED STEINWAY & Bösendorfer INVENTORY LIST

Book a Tuning

Kawai Musical Instruments: A Legacy of Craftsmanship

July 31, 2024

Kawai Musical Instruments: A Legacy of Craftsmanship

Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was founded in August 1927 by Koichi Kawai in Hamamatsu, Japan. Koichi Kawai, born in 1886, had been an apprentice to Torakusu Yamaha, a watchmaker and reed organ builder. Together, they played a pivotal role in introducing pianos to Japan.

Here are some key milestones in Kawai’s history:

  1. First Grand Piano (1928): After leaving Nippon Gakki Co. (later known as Yamaha Corporation), Koichi Kawai established the Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory. In 1928, Kawai released its first grand piano, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey in piano craftsmanship.
  2. Shigeru Kawai Era (1955-1989): Following Koichi Kawai’s passing in 1955, his son, Shigeru Kawai, took over as company president. Shigeru expanded production facilities and opened the Ryuyo Grand Piano Factory in 1980. Under his leadership, Kawai pianos gained a reputation for long-term stability and performance.
  3. Hirotaka Kawai’s Innovations: Shigeru’s son, Hirotaka Kawai, became president in 1989. He integrated advanced robotics into manufacturing, expanded global facilities, and introduced a new series of grand, upright, and digital pianos.
  4. Materials Innovation: Since the 1970s, Kawai has pioneered the use of alternative materials. They replaced wooden action parts with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) to enhance stability and consistency in piano performance.

Today, Kawai continues to create exceptional grand pianos, upright pianos, digital pianos, electronic keyboards, and synthesizers, distributing them to over 80 countries worldwide. Their commitment to craftsmanship and innovation remains unwavering.

Whether you’re a pianist, music enthusiast, or simply appreciate fine instruments, Kawai’s legacy is one of passion, precision, and musical excellence. 





Also in NorthWest Pianos Blog

How to Choose the Right Digital Piano in 2026: A Beginner's Guide
How to Choose the Right Digital Piano in 2026: A Beginner's Guide

September 28, 2026

Shopping for a digital piano in 2026 can feel overwhelming. The market is flooded with options across every price point, and the technical specifications — weighted keys, polyphony, touch sensitivity, sound engines — can make it hard to know where to start. This guide cuts through the noise and gives you the key things to look for when choosing a digital piano, whether you're buying for yourself or for a child just starting out.

Continue Reading

How AI Is Changing the Way We Learn Piano in 2026
How AI Is Changing the Way We Learn Piano in 2026

September 23, 2026

Learning piano used to mean booking a weekly lesson, sitting down with a teacher, and slowly working through a method book. That still works — but in 2026, an entirely new layer of learning has arrived, and it's powered by artificial intelligence.

Continue Reading

The Lo-Fi Piano Phenomenon: How Ambient and Focus Music Is Creating a New Generation of Piano Listeners — and Buyers
The Lo-Fi Piano Phenomenon: How Ambient and Focus Music Is Creating a New Generation of Piano Listeners — and Buyers

August 28, 2026

If you have spent any time on YouTube, Spotify, or TikTok in 2026, you have almost certainly heard it: the unhurried piano chord, the soft crackle of vinyl, the gentle rain in the background, the tempo that never rushes. Lo-fi music — specifically its piano-centered variants — has become the defining sonic backdrop of concentrated work, study, and intentional rest for a generation of listeners. And it is doing something unexpected in the process: it is turning passive listeners into curious beginners.

Continue Reading