About CASIO MusicOur history and what moves us: Learn here why we have been making musical instruments for over 30 years. Our leaders and the developers behind our instruments provide insight into their day-to-day life at CASIO and recount their experiences.
Once upon a time, there were four brothers who had talent, ideas, courage and a vision. What sounds like the beginning of a fairy-tale was the venture of brothers Kazua, Tadao, Toshio and Yukio Kashio that started in 1946 — just one year after World War II had ended.
Their shared idea was to develop and produce electronic and digital technology — and to make a success of it. But one vision came from the enthusiastic amateur musician Toshio, whose biggest dream was to create electronic musical instruments that were also affordable for amateur musicians.
Following on from their initial success with the first electric relay-based desk calculator in 1957, their next innovation was the first inkjet printer.
The first pocket calculator was ready to be launched on the market in the early 1970s. In the mid-1970s, the CASIOTRON stormed the watch market and is still as popular today. After this success, Toshio decided that the time had come to finally make his original vision come true as he knew that the company had amassed the relevant expertise and the technology was now sufficiently advanced.
By early 1978, the Kashio brothers, under the leadership of Toshio, began to revolutionise the electronic musical equipment market. Their goal: To implement new ideas, build smaller instruments and use innovative technologies to achieve value for money that allowed musicians to experience creative freedom and music on a modest budget and within their own four walls.
And it only took until 1980 for CASIO to reach its goal with the launch of CASIOTONE 201, the world's first portable keyboard, setting a new standard for the future. Success was not long in coming thanks to the instrument's capacity to make 49 different sounds. A year later in 1981, the mini keyboard VL-1 was launched and used by Stephan Remmler of the German band TRIO to produce their worldwide hit "Da Da Da", proving that high-quality instruments do not need to be expensive or large.
In 1987, the 16-bit FZ-1 sampling synthesizer then finally ushered in the new era of amateur musicians being able to be a part of the big music business without having to spend the equivalent price of a new car. This is how Toshio’s dream became reality — and it is still CASIO’s production and development philosophy.
The first electronic keyboard
Electronic keyboard with memory function and auto-play
Mini keyboard with ROM cartridge
CASIO's first synthesizer with "phase distortion" synthesis
Mini keyboard with sampling function
Midi controller keyboard with shoulder strap
Midi-compliant electronic drum set
Digital guitar.
16-bit sampling keyboard.
CASIO's first electronic wind instrument.
The beginning of the 1990s saw Casio turns its attention to digital pianos and entry-level keyboards. The first CELVIANO AP-7 model and the first keyboard with Lighted Keyboard technology, the CTK-520L, were launched in 1991. Since 1997, the LK series has been helping beginners to learn using pre-programmed tracks and lighted keys that help them to play without being able to read music.
Many Casio keyboards have since become rather iconic. These digital musical instruments have continued to surprise with unique features and have helped to write pop music history.
First CELVIANO digital piano.
Mini keyboard with illuminated keys.
First keyboard with illuminated keys in standard size.
The start of the new millennium saw CASIO conquer new sectors with new models. In 2003, the first PRIVIA PX-100 was launched in the digital piano sector, and the first CDP model CDP-100 in 2005.
Equally, the company's name became so synonymous with the keyboard segment that the term CASIO keyboard came to mean all keyboards with automatic accompaniment. The keyboards from the CTK series, including the CTK-2400 entry-level model, proved particularly popular.
Workstation with ZPI Sound Source.
The first PRIVIA compact digital piano.
Keyboard with illuminated keys and TV connection (karaoke).
Compact, entry-level digital piano with PRIVIA HL Sound Source.
PRIVIA digital piano with 128-note polyphony (AiF Sound Source).
Keyboard with AHL Sound Source.
Digital piano with Linear Morphing AiF Sound Source.
From entry-level keyboards, low-cost digital pianos and synth and stage instruments for professional applications, CASIO instruments deliver both quality and creative possibilities at affordable prices.
Today, CASIO has a worldwide presence and has sold 70 million instruments — something which Toshio Kashio could never have dared dream would happen.
CASIO's synthesizer comeback after 20 years.
Revolutionary new multi-dimensional sound source for CELVIANO and PRIVIA.
Professional stage piano with master keyboard functions.
The popular PRIVIA series celebrates its 10th birthday.
The first hybrid piano series from CASIO
In today's world, musical instruments such as digital pianos need to sound great and look great. After all, instruments are generally destined to be used in our homes, our living rooms – places where we want to feel comfortable all the time.
As designers of these musical instruments, we are faced with the challenge of creating a perfect combination of the classic style of a piano with modern digital music technologies.
Our PRIVIA series of musical instruments achieve this particularly well. This is a hugely popular product family from the compact digital piano range launched by CASIO. We have created a sleek and modern design to the body that incorporates modern concepts of interior design and yet still reflects the roots of the classic ideal.
Mr Kuramochi
Works at the CASIO Design Center in Tokyo
Innovation goes beyond technology. It includes responsibility. CASIO products enrich life. And music.
CASIO, as a company with worldwide business activities, has committed itself to maintaining the good name of its brand by adhering to up-to-date environmental and resource standards. The short-term and long-term objectives are to reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions:
Furthermore, CASIO has set strict standards that are more stringent than legal requirements. These standards apply to:
