Career
He played for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Drummondville Voltigeurs between 2006 and 2007, and for the Gatineau Olympiques between 2007 and 2009. Undrafted, he returned to Japan and played for the Tohoku Free Blades in between 2009 and 2012. He has also played for the Japan national team (senior team) since 2010.
On July 31, 2012, it was announced that Kawai would leave the Free Blades and return to North America upon commencement of training camp, signing to a one-year contract with the inaugural Denver Cutthroats of the Central Hockey League (CHL).
After 7 games with Tohoku Kawai attended the Cutthroats training camp, however unable to make the opening night roster he returned to the Free Blades to resume the season.