Hello everyone,
As we hold our first exhibition in collaboration with Musashi Gakki, I would like to take a moment to introduce Kawai Musical Instruments. Though it may not be perfect, I hope this introduction will help you learn more about us.
I am happy to know that many of you may already be familiar with us, but for those who aren't, Kawai is the second-largest piano manufacturer in the world, based in Hamamatsu, Japan.
We are responsible for producing and selling pianos used by many households, as well as the renowned 'Shigeru Kawai' grand pianos that perform at international piano competitions such as the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.
While I plan to delve deeper into the Shigeru Kawai grand pianos in a future opportunity, today, I'd like to talk about the heart of the piano: its action mechanism.

When you press a key on a piano, a mechanism inside strikes the strings with a hammer to produce sound. This intermediate mechanism is called the 'action.'
The parts used in the action need to be made from high-precision materials that can withstand environmental changes like seasonal shifts.
Traditionally, wood was mainly used, but Kawai has adopted special resin parts blended with carbon fiber, known as the 'Ultra Responsive Action.'
The key features of this action are that it combines all the best qualities! Compared to wood, it is lighter, more durable, and has higher precision, offering excellent durability against environmental changes.
Due to its black appearance, it is also referred to as the 'Black Action' in-house.
With the increasing focus on preserving wood resources in recent years, this is also an environmentally conscious initiative for the future.
The 'Ultra Responsive Action' allows for quick transmission of key movement to the hammer, resulting in a smooth playing feel and the ability to faithfully express the sound you desire.
All the models on display at this exhibition are equipped with this action, so we invite you to try out the responsive and smooth touch for yourself!

It turned into a bit of a promotion, but when asked about the features of Kawai pianos, I would say it’s the high-tech action and the fact that they are continually researching and developing to create evolving pianos.
It is well known that Formula 1 motorsports serve as a testing ground for new technologies, and similarly, Kawai continues to innovate. Based on evaluations from world-class competitions and artists, Kawai integrates these new technologies into their high-end pianos and also applies them to pianos designed for home use.
I will introduce more about 'evolving pianos' in the next column.