- Home
- News Releases
- 2025
- Yamaha Releases TORCH T01 Digital Piano with Keys Made from Unutilized Materials Exclusive Japan-Only Model Exemplifies Sustainable Manufacturing and Effective Wood Use
Yamaha Releases TORCH T01 Digital Piano with Keys Made from Unutilized Materials
Exclusive Japan-Only Model Exemplifies Sustainable Manufacturing and Effective Wood Use
Yamaha Corporation announces the release of the TORCH T01, an innovative digital piano concept model with keys made from unutilized*1 valuable African Blackwood, used for clarinets and other woodwind instruments. The release will be limited to 20 units, available only in Japan.
Having long used natural materials like wood in our products, Yamaha is pursuing "Otonomori"*2 activities that aim to achieve sustainable forests and protect the source of precious wood materials that are essential to the production of musical instruments. This commitment has also ignited projects to maximize the use of wood and embrace sustainable manufacturing. Our efforts to develop products in ways that draw forth new value from wood have included producing musical instrument prototypes using unutilized materials and presenting them at "Musical Instrument Wood" exhibitions*3.
These activities have also given birth to the TORCH T01, a digital piano that radiates the warmth of wood. The keys of the piano are made from unutilized African Blackwood*4, a material used to make woodwind instruments such as clarinets and oboes. The high ratio of pulverized African Blackwood in the keys gives them their black color, which develops even greater character with time and use.
In an effort to reduce environmental burden, we avoided the use of standard PVC sheets when designing the exterior, opting instead to highlight the natural texture and characteristics of the wood with Yamaha laser-engraving technology and hand-finishing using natural oils. The seat of the chair also features materials such as Hinoki cypress.
The TORCH brand name signifies a "flame to be passed on" and embodies our desire to be a guiding light for instruments and musical culture, illuminating the path ahead and bringing the warmth of time spent with musical instruments to people who love sound and music. We intend to use the knowledge and technical know-how gained from developing this product in the next generation of musical instruments, creating even more new value.
Learn more about TORCH T01
https://www.yamaha.com/en/stories/environment/otonomori/torch_t01/
Key Features
1. Black keys made from unutilized African Blackwood
The African Blackwood used in clarinets and oboes is carefully chosen, since only a small portion of the material is suitable for crafting the musical instruments. Unutilized materials resulting from this process were shaped using wood flow-molding technology*5 and used to create piano keys. The wood and resin compound is 70% African Blackwood, and this high percentage gives the material a texture that radiates the warmth of wood. The absorbent nature of the African Blackwood helps fingers glide across the keys, offering the pianist an enjoyable and pleasant play feeling.
2. Hand-finished design highlights the texture and warmth of wood
Instead of using the usual PVC sheets for the exterior of the piano's body, wood boards are hand-finished using natural oils, highlighting the texture and warmth of the wood. The piano body and the sides of the chair feature African Blackwood bark patterns, added using laser engraving technology normally reserved for luxury car interiors, thanks to collaboration with our group company that handles car interior parts. The seat of the chair uses Hinoki cypress and other materials, instead of the usual PVC sheet material. The edges of the body and seat are hand-finished to ensure that they are pleasant to the touch. The volume knob is also carved from unutilized African Blackwood, allowing the user to feel the texture of wood in even the finest of details.
3. Unique character that develops over years of performance and care
The color of the keys will change with continued play, giving the piano even more character with use. The wood board used for the body of the piano will also change color, depending on the temperature and other environmental factors where the piano is located. The wood can be waxed for a glossy finish, and players can enjoy the rich character that develops over years of maintenance and use.
4. Flagship model grand piano sound and authentic play feeling
Piano voices include Yamaha's flagship CFX concert grand piano and Vienna-based Bösendorfer's flagship Imperial concert grand. The keyboard is based on our GrandTouch-S™ keyboard. It features a broad dynamic range and faithful response to every nuance of touch that puts a wide expanse of tone—from delicate to bold—at the pianist's fingertips. Enjoy warm, resonant sound delivered by the wood-based keys and body.
- *1 Unutilized materials generated through the careful selection and processing of wooden materials when making instruments.
- *2 Activities that aim to ensure the continued availability of valuable wood materials that would be difficult to replace during the manufacture of future generations of musical instruments. Activities include forest conservation in regions where wood is sourced, effective utilization of wood, and sustainable forestry that comprehensively incorporates the development of local communities. Currently, activities are ongoing in Japan and abroad, focusing on three valuable materials: African Blackwood, Sakhalin Spruce, and Indian Rosewood. These activities include working toward the replenishment of resources via forestry and forest management, research and development of technologies for the effective utilization of resources, and more.
https://www.yamaha.com/en/stories/environment/otonomori/ - *3 A series of exhibitions featuring digital piano and guitar prototypes to showcase the results of cutting-edge research in the areas of wood materials used for musical instruments and sustainable musical instrument manufacturing. The exhibitions were held over three periods from 2022 to 2024 at the Yamaha Ginza shop.
- *4 Widely distributed throughout southern sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in East Africa's Tanzania and Mozambique, these valuable trees are classified as "Near Threatened" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (2024). The wood is used in woodwind instruments such as clarinets and oboes, and due to its acoustic properties and distinctive appearance, it has become an indispensable part of woodwind instrument manufacturing. Only a small, carefully selected portion of the wood is used to make musical instruments. Much of the unutilized material ends up as mere fuel, thus our focus on finding a more effective use of the leftover material.
- *5 Technology used to flow and shape wood while retaining its natural characteristics, such as acoustic qualities and texture.
- The content of the press release is accurate as of the date of publication, but please note that it may be subject to change following publication.
- Product names, company names, etc. in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of this company and other companies.