Original Piano Maker(s)
Koichi Kawai (1886-1955)Date Established
1927Original Location(s)
Hamamatsu, JapanNotable Dates
- 1897 — Torakusu Yamaha "discovered" Kawai at the age of 11 and hired him to work for his company.
- 1928 — Kawai began manufacturing grand pianos.
- 1930s — Kawai produced reed organs.
- 1953 — Kawai awarded Blue Ribbon Medal of Honor from the emperor.
- 1955 — Kawai passed away and was succeeded by his adopted son, Shigeru Kawai (1922-2006).
- 1960 — Kawai introduced its electronic organ.
- 1985 — Kawai introduced its digital piano.
- 1989 — Hirotaka Kawai succeeded his father and became the third president of Kawai.
- 1991 — Kawai & Steinway joined forces to create Boston Pianos.
- 2002 — Kawai introduced Shigeru Kawai EX Concert Grand.
Innovation(s) / Patent(s)
- 1928 — Awarded patent for Universal Action.
- 1933 — Awarded patent for Piano Action and Regulating Apparatus of Keyboards.
- 1934 — Awarded patent for Soundboard Bridges.
- 1935 — Awarded patent for Reeds on Harmonicas.
Current Owner
Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has the following subsidiaries: Kawai America Corporation, Midi Music Center Inc., Kawai Canada Music, Kawai Europa GmbH, Kawai UK, Kawai Piano (Russia) LLC, Kawai Australia Pty.Ltd., Kawai Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., PT. Kawai Music Indonesia, and PT. Kawai Music School Indonesia.Its pianos are manufactured in four factories: Ryuyo Acoustic Piano Facility, PT. Kawai Indonesia, Kawai Musical Instruments (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Kawai Emi Co., Ltd.
