KAWAI Professional Upright Pianos

Kawai a family tradition
A Family Tradition
Koichi Kawai, our founder, was born in Hamamatsu, Japan in
1886. As he entered his teens, young Koichi began working
in the piano industry. He was a key member of the research
and development team that first introduced pianos to Japan.
A talented inventor, Koichi Kawai was the first to design and
build a piano action in Japan. He held many patents for his
inventions and designs.
Koichi Kawai (center) with his founding staff
In 1927, Koichi Kawai founded the Kawai Musical Instrument
Research Laboratory, employing seven other kindred individuals.
As a newly established company, the only thing that supported
them was their passion for music and desire to produce superior
pianos. Koichi's fundamental principles were centered around
quality, music appreciation and the quest for excellence. These
basic principles inspire and direct Kawai to this day.
The first Kawai piano