| Japanese businessman, one of the founders of the Sony Corporation Date of Birth: 26.01.1921 Country: Japan |
Akio Morita, a Japanese businessman and one of the founders of Sony Corporation, passed away on October 3rd at the age of 78. An outstanding inventor and creator of one of the leading consumer electronics companies, he was considered a rebel and disruptor of corporate traditions.
Akio Morita was born in January 1921 in the suburbs of Nagoya, Japan. His family had been involved in sake production for 15 generations. Morita's interest in electrical devices and Western classical music began when his family acquired a rare electric phonograph. Despite his family's expectation for him to join the sake business, Morita defied his father's wishes and enrolled at the Osaka Imperial University, where he graduated with a degree in physics in 1944.
Morita achieved many milestones throughout his career. He was instrumental in earning global respect for products labeled "Made in Japan," a label previously associated with poor quality. He co-founded Sony Corporation in 1946 with his former military engineer colleague, Masaru Ibuka. Morita focused on general management while Ibuka took care of the technical aspects. The company was initially named "Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo" (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) and later changed to Sony in 1958. The company's first office was a burned-down department store in Tokyo, with a staff of only 20 people.
Sony's early inventions included rice cookers and electric heaters, but their breakthrough came with the development of the first tape recorder in 1950. However, it took several years before they could sell any units due to the high price and lack of demand. Eventually, they managed to sell their tape recorders to the Supreme Court of Japan, which needed them as replacements for stenographers. Sony's first transistor radio, introduced in 1955, was another significant success. Morita and his team also pioneered the development of the compact disc in collaboration with Philips.
One of Morita's most iconic innovations was the Walkman, a portable cassette player that revolutionized the way people listened to music. Initially, the idea faced opposition within the company, but Morita took full responsibility and instructed his engineers to develop the product without conducting market research. The Walkman was an instant success when it was released in 1979, and the name has become synonymous with portable music players. Sony's other groundbreaking products include the first transistor television, liquid crystal display television, and home video recorder.
Morita was known for his active lifestyle outside of work. He took up golf in his 40s, tennis in his 50s, water skiing in his 60s, and even went scuba diving at the age of 69. He also dabbled in politics and co-authored a book with the current governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, which caused controversy between Tokyo and Washington.
Akio Morita's entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to challenge traditions made him a unique figure in Japan. Sony Corporation's capital is now valued at 416 billion yen, and the company employs 21,000 people. Despite his passing, Morita's impact on the consumer electronics industry and his legacy as a visionary and innovator will continue to inspire future generations.