Roland is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, equipment, and software. Founded in 1972 by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka, Japan, Roland has become a leading brand in the music industry, known for its innovative and influential products such as synthesizers, drum machines, and digital pianos, which have shaped the sound of various genres, from electronic and pop to rock and jazz, and continue to be used by musicians, producers, and composers around the world.