Shigeru Kawai

After the war, Shigeru was adopted by the Kawai family, where he initially worked as a factory laborer, deeply committed to his job. Three years later, he began learning piano design from his adoptive father, Koichi Kawai, a pioneering piano engineer known for his contributions to the industry. Koichi emphasized the importance of craftsmanship and quality in piano making.

Following Koichi’s sudden passing, Shigeru took over the company and dedicated the next 35 years to elevating Kawai into a leader in the piano industry, renowned for its quality. Shigeru often expressed his passion for his work, stating, “Creating pianos is the greatest job I have ever had!”

Made in Japan, the SK-3 ATX4 offers the elegant profile of a classic grand with a rich tone unmatched by other pianos in its class.

 

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TOUCH

 

The Millennium III action

The Millennium III Action is made from ABS-Carbon, a strong and lightweight composite combining carbon fiber with ABS Styran. This durable material allows for lighter action parts without losing strength, resulting in a faster, more powerful, and more stable performance than traditional all-wood actions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extended Length Keys Made by Spruce

Spruce is the perfect material for piano keys because it is light but strong. It maintains its shape and responds well, allowing pianists to express subtle nuances in their playing. The keys are longer for easier playing and a more uniform feel, and they have a taller profile for added strength and power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Shiko Seion” Hammers

NShiko Seion hammers, meaning “ultimate voicing” in Japanese, are crafted exclusively by Kawai’s Master Piano Artisans who supervise the entire process. Each hammer is carefully hand

-pressed and voiced without heat or artificial hardeners, ensuring exceptional dynamic response and expression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand-wound bass strings by skilled craftsmen

KAWAI’s skilled craftsmen carefully and precisely hand-wind copper wire around the bass strings to ensure top quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concert Agraffes

Shigeru Kawai Concert Agraffes, made from solid brass for strength and precision, are identical to those on our famous EX Concert Grand Piano. They produce a clear, powerful tone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium Aged Soundboard Made of Solid Spruce

The custom-tapered soundboard in a Shigeru piano is made exclusively from the finest spruce, aged by the traditional kigarashi process that uses only the forces of time and nature to allow the wood to attain a state of natural balance.It is this lengthy and painstaking process that gives Shigeru pianos their uniquely rich tonal quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLID (Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design)
The Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design (SOLID) provides a strong foundation for string tension. In this construction, the pinblock is carefully fitted to the plate, and the pinblock is combined with the overlapping stretcher bar to form a single, sturdy structure that’s firmly anchored to the rim. This design ensures excellent strength and stability, leading to reliable tuning and a rich sound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hybrid Inner Rim(Konsei Katagi Rim)
The exclusive Konsei Katagi rim combines different types of hardwoods to create a perfect sound. The inner rim features fine-pored hardwoods, which enhance brightness and projection, layered with dense, large-pored hardwoods that add warmth and depth. This mix of hardwoods results in a rich, well-rounded tone that is characteristic of the Shigeru piano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-Spruce Beams

Spruce is known for its outstanding ability to conduct and conserve sound energy. However, it is generally considered too precious for use as a structural material. For the Shigeru pianos, all of the underside beams are made entirely of the highest quality spruce.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dual-Pivot Dampers

Meticulous attention to the needs of professional performers is evident in every feature of the Shigeru piano. One example, originally developed for our Shigeru Kawai EX Concert Piano, is the unique dual-pivot damper design that allows smoother half-pedal control for delicate tonal expression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MPA 

Kawai’s most esteemed sound creators are proudly known as Master Piano Artisans (MPA). They are the only individuals who can send Shigeru Kawai pianos out into the world. The title of MPA is a special qualification, bestowed upon the finest piano technicians — those who possess skill, dedication, and a passion for music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Specifications

Size	Length	188 cm
	Width	152 cm
	Height	102 cm
	Weight	334 kg
Touch	White key surfaces	NEOTEX
	Black key surfaces	NEOTEX
	Action	Millennium III
	Hammers	All underfelted
Sound	Soundboard	Solid Spruce, Tapered
	Agraffes	1-54 keys / Shigeru Kawai concert agraffes
	Duplex scaling	Fore & Back
	Back posts	4
Exterior design	Pedals	Damper, Sostenuto, Soft
	Casters	Double, Brass
	Lid props	3
	Softfall	✔
Music rack	Position	5 positions
	Hard Finish	–
Lock		✔
Other features		Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design (SOLID) Longer Keys Steel-reinforced keyslip & keybed V-pro plate CORE system Vertically laminated treble bridge Longer period of natural drying process Hand-wound bass strings Dual Pivot Damper Spruce beams Reinforced Hammer Shank Hand-craft Process Final voicing by MPA (Master Piano Artisan)