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-EX LA offers the elegant profile of a classic grand with a rich tone unmatched by other pianos in its class.

 

Made in Japan, the SK-EX concert grand piano embodies the pursuit of Kawai’s ‘gold standard’ of piano creation: a peerless instrument, fashioned from the very finest materials, and crafted by passionate artisans drawing upon generations of knowledge and experience.

 

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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 Keysticks

The overall length of each key stick is extended to facilitate more control and provides consistent touch from the front to the back of the key. Key sticks are also built with a higher profile for greater stiffness, allowing them to deliver more force.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temaki Bass Strings

Those bass strings which are made using the Temaki method are crafted by specialized master piano artisans who carefully guide the winding of bass strings by hand for total precision and tension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concert Agraffes

The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX’s Concert Agraffes are individually machined from billet brass rods to offer exceptional precision in the placement of the strings. An exceptionally brilliant and clear treble tone is the result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kigarashi Soundboards

The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX’s exquisite spruce soundboard — made exclusively from wood aged in the time-honored traditional Kigarashi process that utilizes the power of time and nature to achieve a state of natural balance — is unique.Executed with the highest level of craftsmanship and finest materials this complex and laborious technique gives every Shigeru concert grand piano its distinctive tonal quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shiko Seion Hammers

Shiko Seion hammers are made by our Master Piano Artisans (MPAs), who are true masters of their craft. These hammers are created without the use of heat or artificial hardeners to achieve unsurpassed response and expression. That’s why they take their name from the Japanese words for “ultimate voicing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Konsei Katagi Rim

The unique Konsei Katagi rim combines a blend of distinctive hardwoods to achieve the perfect balance of tone. Small-pore hardwoods, which offer brightness and projection, are interlaminated with dense, large-pore hardwoods, which give warmth and fullness. The result is a unique combination of woods, which results in the Shigeru piano’s renowned richness of tone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boxwood Bridge Caps

Bridge caps made of boxwood are found only on premium pianos. It is a hardwood with excellent tonal transfer properties, while also providing additional infrastructure with which to hold bridge pins securely. Boxwood bridge caps aid in the projection of treble tones that balance well with a larger piano’s stronger bass voice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Specifications

Size	Length	278 cm
	Width	158 cm
	Height	103 cm
	Weight	504 kg
Touch	White key surfaces	NEOTEX
	Black key surfaces	Ebony
	Action	Millennium III
	Hammers	All underfelted
Sound	Soundboard	Solid Spruce, Tapared
	Agraffes	1 – 53 keys / Shigeru Kawai concert agraffes
	Duplex scaling	Fore & Back
	Back posts	5
Exterior design	Pedals	Damper, Sostenuto, Soft
	Casters	Large, Brass (with stopper)
	Lid props	3
	Softfall	✔
Music rack	Position	5 positions
	Hard Finish	–
Lock		✔
Other features		‘Experimental’ creation process