Shigeru Kawai
Handcrafted.
Individually voiced.
Named after Kawai's master designer and former president, every Shigeru Kawai is built in Japan by craftsmen who hand-select tone materials and voice each instrument individually before it leaves the factory.
Official Piano · International Tchaikovsky Competition
What defines the collection
Ryuyo Factory, Japan
Every Shigeru Kawai is built in Japan by Kawai's most skilled craftsmen. Tone materials are hand-selected for each instrument. Soundboards are voiced individually — no two Shigeru Kawai pianos are exactly alike.
Individual Voicing
Each instrument is voiced and approved before leaving the factory. Voicing is the process of adjusting hammer felt density to shape the tonal character of the piano — it is one of the most skilled and time-intensive aspects of piano manufacture.
Tchaikovsky Competition
The SK-EX is the official piano of the International Tchaikovsky Competition — one of the most prestigious classical music competitions in the world. The choice reflects the confidence placed in the instrument at the highest level of performance.
The Collection
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SK-EX
Shigeru Kawai EX Concert Piano
World Class Performance The Kawai EX Concert Grand is one of the world's finest pianos. It has performed brilliantly on the concert stage for decades as a preferred choice of pianists at international piano competitions worldwide. Possessing the formidable power to "sing" above the orchestra, it can also whisper delicately with ease through the softest pianissimo passage. But beyond its superb technical prowess, the most valued attribute of the EX Concert Grand Piano is its preternatural ability to create wondrous "art" at the hands of the artist. The scarcity of materials used and the painstaking attention devoted to each EX Concert Piano make these instruments rare indeed. Fewer than twenty are crafted each year for all the world. But to truly understand the EX is to play it. Only then, in its transcendent tone and incomparable touch, will you fully sense the passion, the devotion... the spirit of Kawai. Kawai EX Concert Piano Dimensions
View instrument →Common questions
- Where are Shigeru Kawai pianos made?
- Every Shigeru Kawai is handcrafted at Kawai's Ryuyo manufacturing facility in Hamamatsu, Japan. Ryuyo is where Kawai produces all of their acoustic instruments, from the entry GL Series to the concert SK collection. The Shigeru Kawai instruments are built by the most experienced craftsmen in the facility.
- What is the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX?
- The SK-EX is the 9-foot concert grand — the flagship of the Shigeru Kawai collection. It is the instrument used at the International Tchaikovsky Competition and other major concert venues. The SK-EX is designed for professional concert performance at the highest level.
- What is the difference between the SK-3, SK-5, SK-6, and SK-EX?
- The differences are primarily size and the tonal character that comes with it. The SK-3 is the smallest of the collection — a salon grand for serious home use. The SK-5 and SK-6 are mid-size concert grands suited to recital halls and recording studios. The SK-EX is the full concert grand. Each larger model produces greater tonal projection and more resonant bass response.
- What competitions and events use the Shigeru Kawai piano?
- The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX is the official piano of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, one of classical music's most prestigious competitions. Shigeru Kawai instruments are also used in concert halls and music programs internationally.
- How do I purchase a Shigeru Kawai piano?
- Shigeru Kawai pianos are available through authorized Kawai dealers by private appointment. Because each instrument is individually voiced and has distinct tonal characteristics, the purchase process involves a personal consultation and, typically, the opportunity to play the specific instrument before acquiring it.
Kawai Acoustic Grand Piano Lineup
Shigeru Kawai pianos are available by private appointment through authorized dealers.
