At CEATEC, Hacoa is displaying a new concept for the wooden keyboard idea presented previously, that didn’t sell very well. The previously designed wooden keyboard was difficult and took time to make, not to mention expensive. When the keyboards were first announced, they were around 50,000 yen each (or about $400). Now they are changing the way they do things, and have basically created a molded kit that they can sell for a cheaper price, 34,800 yen (about $290) and it requires some assembly by the purchaser. The price they say is justified because you are putting together a “one-of-a-kind” keyboard that will make all your friends and family insanely jealous–after all, how many people do you know that have a wooden keyboard? Better still, how many people do you know that are willing to purchase a keyboard for that kind of money? (I use a Logitech G15, and it was about half that price!)

The keyboard kit is set to go on sale in Japan from the end of October, so keep your eyes open for it!