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Yamaha Pianos Name Kawauchi Brand Ambassador (updated)


Having left his government job at the end of the Japanese fiscal year in March to make a go of it as a professional runner, it was announced today that 2018 Boston Marathon winner Yuki Kawauchi, 32, has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with piano maker Yamaha Music Japan Co., Ltd.

“What I like about a Yamaha piano is that it’s all there in front of you in black and white, like life,” said Kawauchi, an avid pianist as a child before his parents made him pursue running. “I hope that we’ll have a long and harmonious relationship, with just a hint of dissonance for depth.”

The endorsement deal includes the introduction of a “Make a Breakthrough” Kawauchi signature model acoustic grand piano, proceeds from the sales of which will go toward supporting Kawauchi’s training in the lead-up to the 2021 Eugene World Championships.

A delighted Yamaha president Naoji Suda told reporters, “Kawauchi’s values are well-tuned to ours, one of the keys to any successful relationship. I can’t think of a better brand ambassador for our flagship line of acoustic grand pianos. He may not be the fastest pianist in the world, but nobody carries a tune, or a piano, quite like him.”

source article:
https://cloud.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1175452.html
translated by Brett Larner

Update: This was an April Fool's Day article, if it wasn't obvious from the quality of the photoshop job in the picture.

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Comments

Anonymous said…
Hahaha, good one! I’m slow, took a while to get it.
Metts said…
I thought maybe Asics would have signed him?
Metts said…
I almost thought this was an April fools joke?
Simon Sumida said…

I thought this was fake news until I looked up and confirm Naoji Suda was indeed Yamaha's President. 😂
Every Yuki's race is like a melody composed by a virtuoso for us running fanatics. And your reviews compound a perfecto chorus!
Have fun again in Boston!

Anonymous said…
Hahaha, so the bad comment from 2018 Boston marathon “this guy ran too fast .... he carried a piano” holds water.
TokyoRacer said…
He looks good in a tux!
Andrew Armiger said…
Next: commission Yoshida Brothers to compose a song about/inspired by Kawauchi.
Anonymous said…
As a pianist and runner, I completely fell for this and got very excited, until, like you said, I looked a little more closely at the photo, lol. Good one.

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