Casio Digital Piano Company History

Casio Digital Piano Company History – REPORT – July 1, 2026

We have been using Casio music products for well over 40 years, both for home use and professional use. I’ve always considered Casio to be a good company with regard to some of their piano & keyboard products I have owned. But I really didn’t know how extensively they were involved in high tech consumer and business music products. Most people know the name Casio, especially when it comes to personal electronics like calculators, keyboards, and watches, but are not necessarily as familiar with some of the other things they do.

Casio does not produce acoustic upright & grand pianos like Yamaha & Kawai nor does Casio produce high price digital pianos over $10,000. Because of this, many people have not taken the Casio company as seriously over the years when it come to higher quality music products, but all of that seems to changing now with Casio’s newest and best digital pianos for 2026. I have talked about their new digital pianos in this blog detailing a number of specific models for you to read about.

However, if you want to learn how the Casio company got its start and the many interesting and impressive products they have created over the years, see the info below and click on the many links to get more info. Also, I will be doing some in-depth history on other digital piano companies in the upcoming months including Yamaha, Kawai, and Roland.

Casio Digital Pianos: The Casio company was founded in 1946 as Kashio Seisakujo in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan.
In 1954 the first prototype of all-electric compact calculator (relay model) was completed.
In 1957 marketing for the world’s first compact all-electric calculator, the “Casio 14-A” begins, and Casio Computer Co., Ltd. is established.
In 1960 the Tokyo factory was completed in Yamato-machi, Kitatama-gun (now Higashi Yamato City), Tokyo, Japan
In 1960 Tadao Kashio becomes company President (Interesting fact – the current company name “Casio” is actually derived from the founder’s family name “Kashio”)
In 1965 the the 001, an electronic desktop calculator with onboard memory was introduced
In 1967 Casio enters the US and Canadian markets (OEM partnership with Commodore)
In 1967 Casio releases of the world’s first programmable electronic desktop calculators with program (AL-1000 series)
In 1971 the world’s first inkjet printer was unveiled
In 1972 came the release of the Casio Mini, the world’s first personal calculator
In 1974 was the release of the CASIOTRON electronic wristwatch
In 1976 was the release of Electronic Cash Register (ECR)(Σ-50ER)
In 1978 was the release of first card-size calculator, the Casio Mini Card (LC-78, thickness: 3.9mm)
In 1980 was the release of the Casiotone 201 electronic keyboard
In 1981 was the release of first electronic dictionary (TR-2000)
In 1983 was the release of the G-SHOCK DW 5000C, the first shock resistant watch
In 1983 was the release of the TV-10, a pocket-sized LCD TV
In 1983 was the release of electronic keyboard with ROM pack (PT-50)
In 1984 was the release of the Casio digital synthesizer keyboard (CZ-101)
In 1985 was the release of an electronic guitar with a full selection of tones (DG-10/20, MG-500/510)
In 1986 Casio invented and produced the world’s first inexpensive personal keyboard sampler. A fantastic instrument that sold for about $99.https://world.casio.com/corporate/history/chapter02/contents12/
In 1987 was the release of the portable digital audio tape recorder DAT (DA-1)
In 1988 was the release of a guitar with built-in synthesizer sound (PG-380)
In 1988 was the release of the Digital Horn (DH-100), a very small digital wind instrument that was easy to play (I actually owned and played one of these things!)
In 1991 Casio Celviano digital piano line was established
In 1996 the CASSIOPEIA handheld PC was released in North America
In 1998 was the development and launch of high-security encryption system, MDSR
In 2000 the C303CA, the water and shock resistant cellular phone released
In 2000 is the release of wristwatch type MP3 player, Wrist Audio Player (WMP-1V)
In 2000 is the WQV-1 Wrist Camera, a wristwatch-style digital camera
In 2003 the affordable Privia electronic piano is released
In 2010 is the release of mercury-free high-brightness projectors

If you want more info on new digital pianos and LOWER PRICES than internet discounts, please email me at tim@azpianowholesale.com or call direct at 602-571-1864