Tosho Trading Co., Ltd. Is it a misconception that “it costs money to dispose of a piano”? Survey on the current situation of approximately 90% of respondents who “are not using a piano” and the ideal purchasing service

【Tosho Trading Co., Ltd.】 Is it a misunderstanding that “it costs money to dispose of a piano”? Approximately 90% of respondents “are not using their pianos.” Survey reveals current situation and ideal purchasing service. ​
Tosho Trading Co., Ltd. Press release: September 1, 2025 To Members of the Press Is it a misunderstanding that “it costs money to dispose of a piano”? Approximately 90% of respondents “are not using their pianos.” Survey reveals their current situation and ideal purchasing service. Tosho Trading Co., Ltd. (Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Hiroaki Oizumi)’s Kurashi Tech
(https://kurashi-tech.com/

) conducted a survey in August 2025 on attitudes toward the disposal and purchase of household pianos. The survey targeted 200 men and women nationwide, asking about topics such as “current piano usage,” “points to consider when disposing of a piano,” and “ideal service.” The survey results showed that while approximately 90% of respondents said they had an unused piano, many had left it abandoned due to reasons such as “it would cost money to dispose of it” or “they didn’t know where to turn.” On the other hand, there are also many people who want to sell their piano if they can get a high price, or who would prefer free on-site service and immediate cash payment, highlighting the gap between people’s perceptions of piano disposal and the actual options available. [Survey Overview] Number of valid responses: 200 Survey period: August 27, 2025 – August 28, 2025 Survey organization: In-house survey Survey method: Voluntary responses via the Internet For more details, click here: Recommended piano buying companies! We also explain reviews, reputations, and tips for selling at a high price. Approximately 90% of people “don’t use their pianos” revealed.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5088/102/5088-102-47ebe940b2f9d690e1a94ba119bfb71d-1920×1080.jpg According to the survey, 42.5% of respondents said they “never use” their piano, and 49% said they “hardly use” it, revealing that pianos are left unused in nearly 90% of homes. Pianos that were once purchased for children’s lessons or hobbies are no longer used due to changes in lifestyle and family structure, and in many cases are now used as interior decorations or storage space. Pianos are expensive and large instruments, and can pose space challenges and require a lot of storage. Some households feel stressed because their pianos take up space even when they’re not being used. This situation is encouraging people to seriously consider disposing of or selling their items, and it is expected that demand for purchase services will continue to increase in the future. When considering disposal, 66.3% of
respondents said they would “search online for ways to do so.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5088/102/5088-102-3a323e01876b8b38066d4cc783e73f1e-1920×1080.jpg When people decide they want to get rid of their piano, the most common first step is to “search the internet for disposal methods” (66.3%). On the other hand, only 13.9% of respondents said they “consulted with family or friends,” and only 12.9% said they “immediately contacted a professional,” suggesting a tendency to prioritize information gathering over immediate action. The
preconceived notion that disposing of a piano is expensive and the uncertainty of the market price for purchasing a piano are likely contributing to people being cautious in their research. This shows that there is a demand for reliable sources of information and concrete comparisons. “Requesting a specialist to purchase” is the overwhelmingly popular disposal method.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5088/102/5088-102-5a7cdd48eb2d4c5352310442dbc24b06-1920×1080.jpg The most popular disposal method was “selling to a specialized buyer” (76.8%). This is a significant difference compared to the next most popular answer, “taking it to a recycle shop” (9.9%), showing that many people prefer to have valuable items handled by a specialist. Upright and grand pianos in particular are difficult to properly appraise at general recycle shops, so it seems that people are placing more trust in specialized companies. Even though they aren’t using it, they purchased it at a high price and have a lot of attachment to it, so they probably want to get rid of it after properly appraising it. “Selling at a high price” and “low hassle” are key points. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5088/102/5088-102-764d66b8e52eb749ad29c954163f1671-1920×1080.jpg The most important factor when disposing of a piano was “selling it for a high price” (33.5%), followed by “minimizing transportation and hassle” (22.5%). It appears that many people are looking for a well-balanced option, comparing the amount of money they can get from disposal with the complexity of the process. In addition, due to the weight and size of pianos, it is difficult to move them yourself, so there is likely to be strong demand for services that will move them out of your home. In other words, what’s important is not just the appraisal price, but also whether the disposal can be done “easily” and “smoothly.” Most people think that disposing of a piano costs money.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5088/102/5088-102-12d05d0564d124be07a365a0aa0682ff-1920×1080.jpg In the survey, 52.5% of respondents answered that “disposal costs money” and “I don’t know the going rate for resale,” revealing that many people believe that disposal requires a fee. On the other hand, only 46% of respondents answered that they “thought they could sell,” suggesting that people are not fully aware of the possibility of selling their items. However, in reality, if a piano is in good condition and is from a popular brand or model, it can be appraised at a high value of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen, or in some cases even exceeding 1 million yen. Yamaha and Kawai upright grand pianos are in particularly high demand, and if they are new, there is a good chance they can be purchased at a high price. This gap with reality may be leading people to choose to “throw away” items due to a lack of information. The ideal service is “free on-site service with immediate cash appraisal.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5088/102/5088-102-df93bc744a13ecbccfe6f89b4a18dc29-1920×1080.jpg The most common requirement for an ideal piano disposal service was “free on-site pickup,” with approximately 130 votes. Next, items related to speed and reliability, such as “on-the-spot appraisal and immediate payment” and “guaranteed high purchase price,” are gaining popularity. This trend suggests that users have a strong desire to dispose of their pianos smoothly and without incurring extra costs. In addition, some respondents said, “I can easily request it via LINE or an app,” indicating a growing demand for the convenience of being able to complete the process using just a smartphone. Because pianos are heavy and large, user-first services such as “free visits,” “quick appraisals,” and “quick cash conversions” are considered ideal. ■About Kurashi Tech Kurashi Tech (https://kurashi-tech.com/) is a service that allows you to complete all moving procedures, such as
electricity, gas, water, and internet connections, with just one phone call. ■About Tosho Trading Co., Ltd. Company Name: Tosho Trading Co., Ltd. Representative: Representative Director Hiroaki Oizumi Address: Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower 38F, 3-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-6230-9978 Homepage: https://www.tosho-trading.co.jp/ For more information about this release