Koichi Kawai (1886-1955) started as an employee at Yamaha (founded in 1887 by Tarakusu Yamaha) and founded Kawai in Hamamatsu (Japan) in 1927, which today is known worldwide as the largest company exclusively producing musical instruments.
Koichi Kawai strove to build an affordable and innovative piano. Due to a shortage of resources, proper materials and qualified piano technicians, the beginning was very difficult, but Kawai managed to survive. During the Second World War, Kawai had to facilitate the war industry and piano production was restarted in 1951. Due to the increasing interest in Western music in Japan, production increased to approximately 1,500 pianos per year in the early 1950s and Kawai employed 500 people.
After the sudden death of Koichi Kawai (1955), son Shigeru Kawai took over the management.
He modernized the company and in 1961 opened a new assembly factory in Maisaka that could handle a monthly production of more than 5,000 pianos. In the 1960s, Kawai acquired many customers by appointing approximately 2,000 door-to-door representatives to promote music practice through piano playing. In 1963, Kawai America was founded by Shigeru and later Kawai Europe, Kawai Canada, Kawai Australia and Kawai Asia followed.
In 1980, Shigeru opened a grand piano factory in Ryuyo. Kawai became popular under his leadership and continued to grow rapidly. Shigeru Kawai stimulated market demand by setting up a large network of Kawai Music Schools and a Kawai Music Academy that would provide well-trained piano teachers. The Kawai Piano Technical Center trains the technicians who ensure the maintenance level of the large number of instruments.
In 1989, Shigeru's son Hirotaka Kawai took over the management of the company. He continued the successful business strategy and invested a lot of money to realize robot techniques in piano and grand piano construction. Hirotaka had the 'RX Series Artist Grand Pianos' built, which were specially designed for concert stages, and in 1991 Kawai reached production numbers of two million instruments. Hirotaka set up representations in America, Europe and Australia and under his leadership production lines were established in America, China and Indonesia. He also founded Kawai Asia Manufacturing in Malaysia (1991) and Kawai Finishing in America (1995). 
The Instrument
Kawai is a very innovative company.
Kawai has been using alternative materials in the mechanisms of pianos and grand pianos since the 1970s. With the aim of eliminating the effect of wood for certain instrument parts, Kawai uses ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene).
In 2002, Kawai introduced the Millennium III grand piano. In this wing, Kawai used ABS-Carbon, a new composite material made up of ABS and carbon fiber.
The advantages of ABS-Carbon are that the touch sensitivity and repetition speed of the mechanism are improved, because ABS-Carbon parts are not only insensitive to moisture, but are also lighter and stronger than traditional parts.
WHY BUY FROM BOL PIANOS
At Bol, the Kawai used pianos and grand pianos have been technically and visually restored to new condition. The pull straps, the capsule cord, the key tops, all axles, the introduction of the keys and the pedal work are replaced as standard. The cabinet has been repainted in high-gloss black polyester and the key cover is equipped with a slowfall mechanism.