SK TECHNOLOGY
UNCOMPROMISING CRAFTSMANSHIP | A SYMBOL OF UNENDING DEVOTION
UNRIVALLED ADVANCEMENT | A NOBLE COVENANT
ADVANCING HIS HONOR
Honor is sacred to every culture, and certainly to the Japanese. It is a noble covenant that binds an individual’s “words and deeds” inextricably with the value and substance of his name. There is no greater demonstration of honor, no greater commitment, than to place one’s name upon the work of one’s hands.
From initial design, to the selection of the finest materials, to the handcrafted assembly by Master Piano Artisans, each Shigeru piano is a work of uncompromising craftsmanship, a symbol of unending devotion—a profound expression of pride and honor.
For Shigeru Kawai, there could be no other way.
Unparalleled Legacy.
Unsurpassed Craftsmanship.
Unrivaled Advancement.
THE DREAM, PASSION AND HONOR OF SHIGERU KAWAI.
Unparalleled Legacy
Over one hundred years ago, in a humble workshop in Japan, Koichi Kawai embarked upon a journey—a spiritual quest to design and build a piano that would one day be called “the finest.”
A generation later, this dream burned intensely in the heart of Shigeru Kawai. To Shigeru, the dream represented not just his origins, but his destiny—an unrelenting force that would launch a lifetime of devotion in the pursuit of perfection.
In the Shigeru Kawai piano, you will see not just his labour and his love… but his life.
After the passing of Kawai founder Koichi Kawai in 1955, Shigeru Kawai succeeded his father as company president. Determined to remain true to his father’s ideals, Shigeru encouraged the love of music, fostered technological advancement and established the renowned Ryuyo Grand Piano Factory which many have called the most modern facility of its kind.
It was in a quiet, peaceful area adjacent to the hustle and bustle of the factory—a place now known as the Shigeru Kawai Research & Development Laboratory—that the Shigeru Kawai Grand Piano was born. This new piano would become a defining symbol of his life—an instrument that he would describe as “his personal legacy to the piano world.”
THE PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE DWELLS DEEPLY WITHIN THE HEART OF EVERY SHIGERU CRAFTSMAN.
Unsurpassed Craftsmanship
Like members of a great orchestra, each craftsman brings forth a seasoned wealth of skill and artistry that compels the whole to surpass the sum of its parts. Day by day, the craftsman strives to leave an indelible mark upon each creation—an inexpressible emblem of intense desire and duty.
It is this symphony of passionate energies that has elevated the Shigeru piano to the lofty strata shared by few and respected by all.
TRUE ARTISTRY CAN NEVER STOP STRIVING. IT MUST CONTINUALLY ADVANCE AND EVOLVE
Unrivaled Advancement
Honor is sacred to every culture, and certainly to the Japanese. It is a noble covenant that binds an individual’s “words and deeds” inextricably with the value and substance of his name. There is no greater demonstration of honor, no greater commitment, than to place one’s name upon the work of one’s hands.
From initial design, to the selection of the finest materials, to the handcrafted assembly by Master Piano Artisans, each Shigeru piano is a work of uncompromising craftsmanship, a symbol of unending devotion—a profound expression of pride and honor.
For Shigeru Kawai, there could be no other way.
Kigarashi Soundboards
The SK-2’s hand-carved soundboard is made using only the highest quality spruce and aged in a traditional kigarashi technique. This is an intensive and laborious process that uses only time and nature to bring the wood into natural balance. The result, however, is an exceptional and distinctively deep tonal resonance.
Shiko Seion Hammers
Shiko Seion hammers derive their name from the Japanese words for “ultimate voicing”. They are created exclusively by our Master Piano Artisans, that take pride in their creation. Without the use of heat or artificial hardeners, each hammer is hand-pressed and voiced, in a melodious, well-balanced tone.
Konsei Katagi Rim
The Konsei Katagi rim is made from a unique combination of distinct hardwoods that provide an exceptional balance of tone. Small-pore hardwoods with excellent brightness and projection characteristics are blended together with dense, large pore woods for warmth and fullness This combination of structurally different hardwoods has become the hallmark of Shigeru pianos and their wonderfully euphonious tonality.
Concert-Length Key Buttons
The key buttons on the Shigeru Concert Series are made of hardwood maple to increase stiffness and improve energy transmission. The oversized key buttons on the Shigeru Concert Series are designed to maximize power and energy transfer.
Stretcher Over-Lap Design
Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design (SOLID) makes for an extremely solid foundation. In SOLID construction, our artisans hand-fit the pin block to the plate, which is integrated with an overlapping stretcher bar into a solid structure and fastened to the rim. This results in the Shigeru Kawai SK 2’s exceptional strength and rigidity that makes for stable tuning and excellent tone.
Millennium III Action
Our industry-acclaimed Millennium III Action is renowned for its state-of-the-art ABS-Carbon components which generate quick repetition and high power with less effort. ABS-carbon parts and Kawai’s aluminium action rails are impervious to changes in temperature and humidity, resulting in a more stable, trouble-free action.
Extended Keysticks
Each keystick is extended to make playing easier and provide a more even touch from the front to the rear of the key. For Shigeru Kawai SK-2 keysticks are also built with a taller profile for greater strength, offering improved performance.
Concert Agraffes
The Shigeru Kawai SK-2’s Concert Agraffes are individually machined from billet brass rods to provide maximum precision identical to those employed on our famous EX Concert Grand Piano. This small but important detail provides precise positioning of the strings, resulting in a clear powerful tone.
Temaki Bass Strings
The name Temaki literally translates as “hand-wound.” The Temaki technique is a laborious one, taking time to wind each individual bass string by hand. This meticulous process produces rich character and excellent depth of sound.
All-Spruce Beams
Spruce is considered to be exceptional for its ability to transmit and store sound energy. However, is typically thought of as being unsuitable for structural usage due to its high cost. All of the back frame beams on Shigeru pianos are constructed entirely of the best quality spruce.
