The Artisan
Master Piano
Artisans
The Most Esteemed Rank in Piano Craftsmanship
The Three Principles
The ability to select the right wood, evaluate a hammer's density by feel, and hear what others cannot. Intuition is earned through decades of refinement — the capacity to discern between the merely satisfactory and the truly sublime.
The creation process for a Shigeru Kawai piano takes three to five times longer than a standard instrument. The workshop is a place of unruffled focus. There is no rushing, no compromise — only the patient pursuit of perfection.
Rigorous handwork and specially chosen materials keep Shigeru Kawai instruments rare in both character and quantity. Each piano that leaves the Ryuyo factory is a Limited Edition treasure, bearing the personal honor of Shigeru Kawai.
An Enduring Honor
An Enduring Honor
Shigeru Kawai’s wish was that his honor be upheld among all who enter into his legacy. Every new Shigeru Kawai piano owner receives an extraordinary visit from an elite Master Piano Artisan within the first two years of ownership.
Complete concert-level regulation, voicing, and tuning — provided as a personal gift from Shigeru Kawai himself.
North America
David Reed
Master Piano Artisan, North America
A lifelong pianist fascinated by the mechanics of acoustic pianos, David Reed is a newly certified Master Piano Artisan serving clients across North America. His deep musical background informs his approach to voicing and regulation.
Akinori Nakajima
Master Piano Artisan, North America
With many years of expertise in precision tuning, regulation, and voicing at the concert level, Akinori Nakajima brings unparalleled skill and sensitivity to every Shigeru Kawai he touches.
The Path
The road to Master Piano Artisan is long and arduous. A candidate must not only master every technical dimension of piano building and service — they must prove themselves in the world’s most prestigious concert halls and at international piano competitions. The artisan’s hands must be trusted by the world’s finest pianists before they are entrusted with a Shigeru Kawai.
Continue the Journey
The Artisan’s Promise
When you own a Shigeru Kawai, you enter into a personal covenant with the finest piano craftsmen alive.