Kawai

A Family Tradition

Our founder, Koichi Kawai, was born in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 1886. Koichi began working in the piano industry when he was in his teens. He was a crucial member of the research and development team that brought pianos to Japan for the first time. Koichi Kawai, a brilliant innovator, was the first in Japan to design and build a piano action. He was the owner of numerous patents for his innovations and designs.

Koichi Kawai established the Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory in 1927, employing seven other like-minded people. The only thing that kept them going as a startup firm was their love of music and drive to make better pianos. Quality, music enjoyment, and the pursuit of excellence were central to Koichi's philosophy. These fundamental concepts continue to motivate and guide Kawai today. 

Shigeru Kawai took over as president of the company after Koichi Kawai died in 1955 at the age of 33. Shigeru was adamant about upholding his father's principles. He predicted substantial expansion in the music industry and prepared for it by increasing production facilities and forming a number of organizations to promote music's value.

Shigeru became the growing connection between the period of skillful handwork and modern technology because he was resourceful and imaginative. He founded the Ryuyo Grand Piano Facility in 1980... Today, it is regarded as the world's most advanced piano-making facility.

Hirotaka Kawai, who was elected president in 1989, is committed to continuing his father and grandfather's legacy. "At Kawai, strive for perfection is not just an ideal... but a duty," he says of their mindset. Under Hirotaka's leadership, the company embarked on a multimillion-dollar program to integrate modern robotics into the manufacturing process. He's also overseen the establishment of Kawai manufacturing sites all around the world. As a result, the Kawai family leadership tradition continues from generation to generation.