Kawai commemorates the 60th Anniversary of their arrival in North America with the release of two astonishing, gorgeous, limited-edition acoustic pianos.
Just 60 limited edition pianos, each of the best-selling GX2 grand and the K-500 upright, are being offered. Both will feature rare hand-painted accents using the ancient Japanese method of lacquering called “Urushi.”
Urushi’s special applications dates to 16th Century Japan. The treasured sap of the Urushi tree can only be collected in small quantities. After three to five years of harvesting, the sap is filtered, dehydrated, and homogenized, resulting in an artisan clear lacquer. This lacquer can then be tinted in black, yellow, red, green, or brown. The lacquer is then applied under the most stringent conditions, and after it dries, a second layer is applied, making the process extremely labour-intensive – and for all who will own one, extraordinarily worth it. Using a technique called ‘Maki-e,” the Kawai logo and the 60th-anniversary logo are then created by sprinkling fine gold flakes onto the wet lacquer for a spellbinding effect.
On the GX2 grand piano, the fallboard, music desk, and lid prop are all individually lacquered by hand; thus each one is a one-of-a-kind work of art. On the K-500 upright, the fallboard and two cabinet pillars are enhanced by the Urushi lacquer finish.
“These two pianos are stunning,” says Kawai America VP Cory Callies. “Using this ancient finish on the world’s most advanced piano is the perfect example of the fusion of tradition and technology. Our team has created matchless pianos that will be cherished family heirlooms and ones our Kawai dealers will find very much in demand.”
The two models will start appearing in dealer showrooms in January of 2023.
For more information about the new Kawai 60th Anniversary models, visit www.kawaius.com
About Kawai:
Kawai is a global corporation with distribution in virtually every major market in the world. From its beginnings in 1927 in Hamamatsu, Japan, the company has been committed to an ongoing quest to perfect the art of the piano. One of the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturers, Kawai is one of a very few piano companies in the world still led by members of its founding family. For more information about its award-winning instruments, visit www.kawaius.com
Contact
Frank A. West
Kawai America Corporation / Kawai Canada Music
800-421-2177