Founded in 1927 by Koichi Kawai in Hamamatsu, Japan, Kawai Musical Instruments is one of the world's foremost piano manufacturers. Koichi Kawai was the first person in Japan to design and build a complete piano action, and his emphasis on precision engineering and innovation has defined the company since its inception. After his passing in 1955, his son Shigeru Kawai took over as president and expanded the company's global reach. Kawai distributes acoustic and digital pianos to over 80 countries and has built more than 2.4 million pianos.

Kawai's acoustic lineup includes the flagship Shigeru Kawai concert grand series — the SK-EX was selected as the official piano of the 2002 International Tchaikovsky Competition — along with the GX BLAK and GL series grand pianos and the K series uprights. On the digital side, the CA, CN, ES, and KDP series digital pianos are widely regarded for their keyboard action and sound quality, while the Novus and Aures hybrid pianos blend acoustic craftsmanship with digital technology. Kawai also produced notable synthesizers in the 1980s and '90s, including the K1, K3, K4, K5, and K5000 series, as well as drum machines like the R-100 and R-50.

Kawai pianos are used across genres, from classical concert stages to pop and rock touring rigs. Artists who have performed on Kawai instruments include Yoshiki, Neil Sedaka, and members of Coldplay, OneRepublic, and Muse.

Kawai has 137 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Digital Pianos, Synthesizers, and Solid Body Electric Guitars. Their gear is featured by 105 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include Matthew Bellamy, Chris Martin, and Jan Hammer. Kawai's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.