<html> <body> Quentin, Takanori Otake is the head MPA (Kawai's title - Master Piano Artisan) for North America.   We generally have 3 MPAs who rotate between the factory and here in the US, with one almost always being in the country, sometimes 2 or even 3.  Naomi Hamaguchi is one of 4 primary concert technicians who work almost full time in the R&D laboratory, building the Kawai EX pianos.  He comes to the US occasionally, but not as often as the MPAs who work making the Shigeru Kawai pianos. There are 20 Kawai MPAs in all.  For those in Seattle and Madison, Wisconsin, you might call the dealers and see when and where you might meet up with Masa Takeda, who will be in those cities next week.  He will be in the Seattle area next Monday and Tuesday, then in Madison Thursday through Saturday. Don Mannino RPT Kawai America At 10:51 PM 11/7/2004, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Hi Jeanie,   I had a seminar with Naomi Hamaguchi too, and it was really excellent. He is a great master of this art, and a very kind person too.   Is MPA Otake the MPA's big boss?   Quentin</blockquote></body> </html>