DOCSLIB.ORG

Made in Japan (AKIO MORITA and SONY)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Made in Japan (AKIO MORITA and SONY) Book Review: Written by Vindu Vikash (EGMP21 Batch), IIM Bangalore. Email: [email protected] Made in Japan (AKIO MORITA and SONY) Author: Akio Morita with Edwin M Reingold and Mitsuko Shimomura Publisher: Published by the Penguin Group, Penguin Books Ltd. Year of publication: The autobiography was originally published in English (ISBN 0525244654) in year 1986 and has been translated to 12 languages, so far. (ISBN) is a unique numeric commercial book identifier based upon the 10-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code created by Gordon Foster, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers W.H. Smith and others in 1966. Since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained 13 digits, a format that is compatible with Bookland EAN-13s About the authors: This book has been written with the assistance of Edwin M. Reingold and Mitsuko Shimomura. Edwin M. Reingold has been Time Magazine‟s Tokyo bureau chief for eleven years. Mitsuko Shimomura is a leading journalist in Japan, known for her writing on politics and international affairs. AKIO MORITA became chairman of the board and CEO of Sony Corporation in January, 1976. He was the imaginative marketing wizard & was responsible for making Sony as one of top consumer electronics brand name in the world. He died on 3 October 1999 at age of 78 year. 'Made in Japan' by Akio Morita is arguably one of the best and thought provoking books that I have read so far. Made in Japan is an autobiography of Late Mr. Akio Morita, the co-founder and former chairman of Sony Corporation. The book not only narrates the story of Morita, but also talks about the making of one of the most successful electronics companies in the modern world, „Sony Corporation's formation in the aftermath of Japan's brutal defeat in World War II, and its subsequent rapid rise to fame and fortune. The book also provides insights into Japanese social and business culture and the Japanese way of thinking, particularly the Japanese business management, philosophies and styles. The Japanese behavior is explained by putting it into a context based on Japan's history, recent and ancient. Through, this book Morita introduces the origins of his family, and how Sony was founded. The book is narrated by Morita in an intensely personal, down to earth, conversational style. The book is divided into the following nine sections/ chapters: War (Survival and Hope) Peace (Our new life begins) Selling To The World (My learning curve) On Management (It's all in the family) American and Japanese Styles (The difference) Competition (The fuel of Japanese Enterprise) Technology (Survival Exercise) Japan and The World (Alienation and Alliance) World Trade (Averting Crisis) Chapters picture the war, early tape recorders, and various observation and conclusions on international markets. The book by Morita also explains about various aspects of Japanese business, government and society. It was on to a seminal visit to Bell Labs in the early 1950s, when Morita looked at the best of American research—the transistor (for which its American inventors saw only a small niche market in hearing aids), and how the Sony took advantage of it. The biography gives authentic details about patent issues, business conferences in various countries, and the invention of the first transistor television in the world (1960), VCR (1965, with aid of Aimpex Technology), Released the first Betamax home video recorder (1975), a year before VHS by JVC came out, Invention of Walkman- making it the world's first portable music player (1979), Compact Disc(1980, Under Joint research with Philips) and launched the Discman series which extended their Walkman brand to portable CD products(1984) et cetra. War (Survival and Hope) Akio Morita was born on January 26, 1921, the first son and fifteenth-generation heir to a sake-brewing family (Sake means ‘Japanese wine') in Kosugaya village near Nagoya in Japan. Influenced as a boy by his mother's love of classical music, Morita developed a keen interest in electronics and sound reproduction. Akio Morita was fascinated with „Wireless and Experiments‟ since his childhood and loved to experiment with wire recorder to record his voice and he possessed reckless enthusiasm at young age. He became so engrossed in his electronic experiments; he even built his own home radio. 1 Book Review: Written by Vindu Vikash (EGMP21 Batch), IIM Bangalore. Email: [email protected] Akio Morita pursued his interest in science at Osaka Imperial University at the lab of Professor T. Asada, who was regarded as expert in modern & applied physics. Akio Morita completing the degree in physics in 1944 from Osaka Imperial University assisted his professor in research for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Later, after completing his graduation in 1944, Lieutenant Morita worked at Japan navy as technical officer and supervised a special project group comprising of interdisciplinary team of scientist and engineers at the Aviation Technology Center trying to perfect thermal guidance weapons and night-vision gunsights. There, he met Masaru Ibuka, an electronics engineer, 13 years his senior. The two became close friends and eventually co-founded the Sony Corporation. Though, during World War II the military authorities in Japan were aware that although they work diligently, but their military projects were not destined to succeed because they were lacking in resources and in time, both. On August 6, 1945 when Americans dropped atom bomb at Hiroshima and subsequent bombing of Nagoya, the major industrial cities in Japan were charred wasteland. This incident also gave a solid impression & belief to Japanese that the American industrial might was greater than what that they imagined and realized that in fact their technology difference was huge and Japanese technology was primitive in comparison with Americans. Japan‟s military technology was at least 20 years behind the Americans at that time due to the fact that Americans could possess Atom bomb and Japan didn‟t had anything at that time to counter it. Amid raids over Tokyo-Yokohama area almost every day and every night in July and August of 1945, Morita‟s family was also deeply concerned that with the aggressiveness of Japan military that it would only leave a trail of bloody war but like most Japanese he had sensed for a long time that War was lost, but they had no idea as how it would end and what would happen after, however Morita had a feeling that War wouldn‟t continue longer. Only, after announcement from Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945 that was war was over, most of the Japanese like Morita was relieved. Peace (Our New Life Begins) Though, there were also attempts made to prevent emperor‟s message from being broadcast and some army men planned to occupy the imperial palace(residence of Japan‟s emperor) to try encourage Japan‟s army to join in their rebellion against the surrender. There was an attempt to attack the then Japan Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki, who managed to escape by using an emergency exit. Army and Navy aviators flew over the Tokyo area dropping leaflets calling on citizens to resist and to say that emperor‟s statements were invalid. Some 2.75 million people mainly Japanese soldiers, sailors and airmen died in the war which was a grievous loss for Japan already. Considering the weakened and smaller armed forces of Japan, Soviet Union entered war against Japan after Hiroshima bombing and seized some 5 islands, which were actually part of Japan and they still hold them today. Russians stormed into Manchuria which was under supervision of Japan and in the end about five hundred thousand Japanese soldiers were taken as prisoner and were made to work as slave in Siberia for nearly 12 years. To most Japanese the end of war was a great relief as well as a national tragedy. Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945 while declaring that war was over, he also urged Japan to look ahead and to unite its strength to be devoted to the construction for the future. After the bombing by Americans to his hometown near Industrial city of Nagoya, Morita had a strong feeling that he had a larger role to play in re-structuring of Japan. After the war days were over, Morita was called by his physics teacher Professor Hattori to teach at Tokyo Institute of Technology, because he had shortage of faculty. During this period, Morita also managed to establish contact with Masaru Ibuka, a brilliant engineer with whom he had worked earlier on a research project team. Ibuka was also opening a new lab in Tokyo called Nihon Sokuteiki or Japan Measuring instrument company, employed about fifteen hundred people that was into making small mechanical elements that controlled the frequency of radar devices. However, Ibuka didn‟t feel professionally satisfied with merely producing components in large quantities in the country side. Therefore, on the afternoon of May 7, 1946 some twenty people gathered on the third floor of a bombed-out & burned-out department store building in a war-devastated downtown Tokyo to establish a new company: Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporations, lead by Ibuka which was later to become the Sony Corporation. The founder of this company, Masaru Ibuka, was 38 years old and Morita was 25. The TTEC, K.K. company was formed with 20 employees and initial capital of ¥190,000 (USD $ 500) that Morita's family invested in TTEC, a forerunner of Sony, during the early period. After formation of their company Masaru Ibuka had limited resources both in terms of cash and products so to get the cash flow ticking but at the same time they wanted to build something new along with establishing a financial base for the company.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Creativity Or Imitation:Japanese Success in VCR Technology Jeanine M
    Lehigh University Lehigh Preserve Perspectives on business and economics Perspectives on Business and Economics 1-1-1989 Creativity or Imitation:Japanese Success in VCR Technology Jeanine M. Kasulis Lehigh University Follow this and additional works at: http://preserve.lehigh.edu/perspectives-v07 Recommended Citation Kasulis, Jeanine M., "Creativity or Imitation:Japanese Success in VCR Technology" (1989). Perspectives on business and economics. Paper 1. http://preserve.lehigh.edu/perspectives-v07/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Perspectives on Business and Economics at Lehigh Preserve. It has been accepted for inclusion in Perspectives on business and economics by an authorized administrator of Lehigh Preserve. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CREATIVITY OR IMITATION: JAPANESE SUCCESS IN VCR TECHNOLOGY Jeanine M. Kasulis Introduction corder (VCR), a popular electronics device found Until the late 1960s, U.S. industry enjoyed in two out of five American homes, was origin­ a preeminent position in technology and com­ ally invented as a broadcasting tool by a Cali­ manded a significant market share in the field fornia-based American firm named Ampex in for industrial and commercial products. Dur­ 1956 (Television and Video Almanac, 1988, p. ing the decades that have followed, however, 433). The invention evolved over the next two competitive strides by the Japanese have made decades into a product that could be used in stunning impacts on world and domestic mar­ the home; but Ampex in particular, and the kets alike. Superior Japanese performance has American electronics industry in general, fell been a growing concern in a wide array of out of competition.
    [Show full text]
  • Released in December 1957, the TR-63 Was Sony's First Pocket-Size Transistor Radio
    Released in December 1957, the TR-63 was Sony's first pocket-size transistor radio. It's a 6-transistor superhet design with some interesting design features, including the use of Sony-manufactured NPN transistors in the circuit. Masaru Ibuka served with the Impe- used in schools and courts. much discussion, Sony's research labo- rial Navy Wartime Research Committee Following Ibuka's visionary 1952 ratory head, Mikato Kikuchi, suggested during World War 2, leaving in 1946 to trip to the USA to sign a licence with dropping Bells' preferred doping agent, join Akio Morita to form Tokyo Tsushin Western Electric, Sony acquired pat- indium, and substituting phosphorus Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, "Totsuko". ent rights for the transistor and subse- instead. When that didn't work, Morita Morita, a physics graduate, had served quently began manufacturing portable called for "more doping"! alongside Ibuka in the Research Com- radios in 1955. It soon paid off and Sony were able mittee, and their friendship laid the to produce the transistors used in their foundations for the international pow- Early difficulties first solid-state radios. Their TR-55 erhouse we now know simply as Sony. Sony preferred NPN transistors be- model, released in 1955, is now a rarity Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo's first prod- cause of their better high-frequency and the last one to be listed online some uct, a rice cooker, says a lot about the response but were initially unable to years ago had a price tag of $US1500. company. Japan had suffered massive produce working examples. One can only imagine the energy destruction during World War 2 due to NPN devices exploit the fact that invested by Sony to leap from Ibuka's bombing and people needed utensils to electrons move more quickly than licensing agreement to a marketable cook their staple food, which was rice.
    [Show full text]
  • 80 the MARKET Sony Corporation Is a Leading
    THE MARKET a very small group of young peo- Sony Corporation is a leading man- ple with the energy and passion for ufacturer of audio, video, communi- unlimited creation. cations, and information technology This passion and creativity products for the consumer and pro- eventually led to the development of fessional markets. Additionally, the Sony’s Trinitron TV in 1968, which company’s music, motion picture, set the world standard for high television-production, game, and quality in home theater products. online businesses make Sony one of As a proponent of global oper- the most comprehensive entertain- ations based on a local presence, ment companies in the world. Morita set up manufacturing plants all over the world. Its Trinitron® ACHIEVEMENTS color television assembly plant Today, Sony employs almost 170,000 in San Diego, California, built in people worldwide, with almost 1972, was the first consumer elec- 22,000 working in the United States. tronics manufacturing facility built For fiscal year 2001, Sony Corpor- in the United States by a Japanese- ation had total sales of more than based company. $56.9 billion, with the electronics Morita’s deep confidence in segment making up more than two- another legendary Sony product, thirds of the revenues. the Walkman personal stereo, was Sony Electronics Inc. (SEL), the key factor in its ultimate formerly known as Sony Corpor- success. While retailers were ation of America, was established in initially resistant, the Walkman 1960 to oversee Sony’s sales and stereo’s compact size and excel- marketing activities in the United lent sound quality attracted con- States.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 1990
    ' ~ • ::·~ ii ~:· J" ~ ~~~-:.,.. • •• • -;) ..... ~· 7 (3,,. '~.:.(_.,~:_-.:~·.::g. :... · ony Cor.~oratio. ri is on~ Of .· the world's le~ing ..~ .: .. ~.. .. manufacturers -of aud1o and v1deo .eqUlp- ,"':_. !<' • •· • .meat, televisions, displays, -semiconduct?rs, _com·puter.s,:'·and such informatipn.. related pr.pdt,:Jcts "' . .as micro flo:ppyaisk systems. Ke--en-1¥: aware 0f the interrelated Aature of ~software and hardware, Sony is also bolstering ,its p.resence in the audio and image-bas.ed software mar~~_ts through the ~BS Records group and the n~wly acquired ·~ Columbia Pktur~s Entertqinment, ·lnc. A strong co.mmltment te research Cilnd d€velopment has helped the {om.pany build a war.ldwide reputati<m as a pacesetter in the efectronic equipment industty. Havlng also garnered recognition as one . ' .~ . ; of Japan's rno~t intetnatjonal corpor:aUons by manufaetutfng fn the market~ - where its products. are sold! Son¥ is ~wrrently strengt!olening globaf systems fQt;, ·corp0rate fwncbie>rrs, fr:'otn 'ot~er- . management to R&D. ~ (:· r;., ~· ~· ... -; ~ ~. ': ,~~:!:~·~:. :r-r:i ··i ' ~. ~ Consolidated .Statements of Cash Flows Notes to Consolidated financial Statements Report of Jndepen:de.nt Accountants SONY CORPORI\TION 1\ND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDII\RIES FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Year ended March 31 OP~RATING R~SULTS Thousands of Millions of yen U.S. dollars except except per share amounts per share amounts Percent change 1989 1990 1990/1989 1990 FOR THE YEAR Net sales ¥2,145,329 ¥2,879,856 +34.2% $18,343,032 Operating income 160,499 295,191 +83.9 1,880,197 Net income 72,469 102,808 +41.9 654,828 Per Depositary Share: Net income ¥ 241.7 ¥ 306.9 +27.0 $ 1.95 Cash dividends 44.6 50.0 0.32 AT YEAR-END Stockholders' equity ¥ 911,816 ¥1,430,058 +56.8 $ 9,108,650 Total assets 2,364,775 4,370,085 +84.8 27,834,936 Number of employees 78,900 95,600 Note: U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Case Analysis.1
    Management of Technology & Entrepreneurship (MTE) Technology Venturing & Entrepreneurship Sony Betamax Case Analysis GROUP 2 Patrick Hammer, Oliver Stampfli, Marcel Sutter, Thomas Thalmann, Donato Verardi [firstname.lastname]@epfl.ch Professor: Christopher L. Tucci Assistant: Farah Abdallah January 14, 2007 TSE - Sony Betamax - Case Analysis Group 2 Table of Content Summary of case report.................................................................... 2 Related topics and class sessions.................................................... 2 Format war (primary subject)............................................................................. 2 Customer needs............................................................................................... 2 Attacker’s advantage........................................................................................ 3 List of discussion questions.............................................................. 3 Brief answers..................................................................................... 3 Detailed answers............................................................................... 4 Recommendations.......................................................................... 10 Lessons learned.............................................................................. 10 Exhibits ............................................................................................11 Seven Key assets by Shapiro & Varian [6] [7] .................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Market Achievements History Product R
    of viewers all over the world with the limitless BRAND VALUES entertainment opportunities of 3D and now 4K. The philosophy behind the long line of Sony design Having led the way in the growth of HD, Sony comprises four pillars – ‘Originality’, ‘Enhancing is once again ahead of the curve by going beyond Workflow’, ‘Functionality’ and ‘Usability’. HD, now offering the Originality – Products are intended for greatest en- people to use and human-focused designs are tertainment the foundation for original creations. experienc- Enhancing workflow – Sony is focused on and es in both providing end-to-end “total solutions” approach solutions 3D and 4K. to enhancing the workflow of its customers. expresses From break- Sony continuously strives to have in-depth Sony’s vision for the workplace of the future. through home understanding of its customers’ needs, pain The IPELA line of network-based visual cinema projectors to points and workflows. communication products ranges from network stunning TV sets in Functionality – Sony prides itself on the camera and recording devices for video security the living room, no other ability of its products and solutions to perform a to video conferencing systems. company can lay claim to job smoothly, efficiently, and correctly. In addition, Sony first developed its own CCD chips back 3D and 4K leadership the way Sony can. It pro- Sony also aims to incorporate innovative and MARKET in 1978. A giant leap for digital imaging technology, vides solutions from 3D live production to 3D TVs, proven features and technologies in all its Sony has always had a cutting edge over the CCD chips were incorporated into Sony’s first Blu-ray players, movies and stereoscopic games.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2011
    Contents 02-19 Letter to Shareholders: A Message from Howard Stringer, CEO Dear Shareholders Operating Results in Fiscal Year 2010 Focus Areas for Growth Networked Products and Services 3D World Competitive Advantages through Differentiated Technologies Emerging Markets 06 10 Expanding 3D World Networked Products 3D World and Services 12 15 Competitive Advantages through Emerging Markets Differentiated Technologies 20 26 Special Feature: Special Feature: Sony’s “Exmor RTM” Sony in India 34 40 Financial Highlights Products, Services and Content 50 51 Board of Directors and Financial Section Corporate Executive Officers 64 65 Stock Information Investor Information ©2011 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., All Rights Reserved. For more information on Sony’s financial performance, corporate governance, CSR and Financial Services business, please refer to the following websites. 2011 Annual Report on Form 20-F http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/library/sec.html Corporate Governance Structure http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/csr/governance/index.html CSR Report http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Environment/index.html Financial Services Business http://www.sonyfh.co.jp/index_en.html (Sony Financial Holdings Inc.) Artist: Adele Photo credit: Mari Sarai 01 Letter to Shareholders: A Message from Howard Stringer, CEO 02 Dear Shareholders, A review of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (fiscal year 2010) must first mention the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred near the end of the fiscal year. On March 11, at 2:46 p.m. local time, East Japan was struck by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, immedi- ately followed by a giant tsunami, which had, in addition to the tragic loss of life and property, a profound psychological and financial impact on the people of Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Issue
    BRAZIL: Booming, Busting … and Now? TALENT + LEADERSHIP ISSUE NO. 3 0 Are Leaders Doomed? The Coolest Jobs $14.95 US / CAN / $14.95 US Will Humans Matter? IT’S WHERE YOUR GREATEST SOURCE OF VALUE CAN DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS PERFORMANCE. Maximizing performance in your organization today and tomorrow comes down to releasing the full potential of your greatest source of value. And, contrary to what many may believe, technology isn’t it. At Korn Ferry, we conducted in depth, quantifiable research to uncover the truth about the future of work. Are you placing your bets wisely? Get your organization to UP. Kornferry.com/futureofwork IT’S WHERE YOUR GREATEST SOURCE OF VALUE CAN DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS PERFORMANCE. Maximizing performance in your organization today and tomorrow comes down to releasing the full potential of your greatest source of value. And, contrary to what many may believe, technology isn’t it. At Korn Ferry, we conducted in depth, quantifiable research to uncover the truth about the future of work. Are you placing your bets wisely? Get your organization to UP. Kornferry.com/futureofwork Gary Burnison Thought leadership. Timely insights. And more. Chief Executive Officer UP. IT’S WHERE STRATEGY AND kornferryinstitute.com Michael Distefano PURPOSE MEET PEOPLE Chief Marketing Officer & President, Korn Ferry Institute AND EXECUTION. The Toughest Job to Fill Jonathan Dahl The improving economy has made qualified Editor-in-Chief You’re looking for new pathways to drive talent harder to find. You’ll never guess the sustainable, profi table growth. role that thousands of the world’s top talent Russell Pearlman acquisition professionals say is now the toughest Managing Editor to recruit.
    [Show full text]
  • Design Management Seen at SONY − Having Managers and Designers Meet Halfway −
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DSpace at Waseda University WASEDA BUSINESS & ECONOMIC STUDIES 2013 NO.49 Design Management Seen at SONY − Having Managers and Designers Meet Halfway − by Shin’ya Nagasawa * Abstract: SONY Corporation is a good example of Japanese companies has established so-called “SONY Design.” This paper considers “Design Management at SONY,” which is based on the interview with the late Mr. Yasuo Kuroki (SONY’s former Director of the Creative Center) and argues the following; (1) Harnessing SONY’s Core Competency of Simplification, (2) Techniques for the Systematic Pursuit of Functional Beauty, (3) Design Is a Personal Matter (Activity that People Perform), (4) Meeting Each Other Halfway by Learning from One Another, (5) Design Management under the Guise of Attitude Management, (6) Is Design Management Working? − The Sun Also Rises. Finally this paper proves the essentials of “Design Management at SONY.” 1. Introduction SONY Corporation is a good example of Japanese companies has established so- called “SONY Design.” This paper will consider the design management at SONY Corporation by approaching it based on the thinking of the late Mr. Yasuo Kuroki (Figure 1; SONY’s former Director of the Creative Center), who is known as “Mr. Walkman” (Nagasawa, 2009). SONY’s core competency is generally deemed to lie in its miniaturization technology in the sense of making things smaller, but Kuroki recognized that for SONY this was to be found in its simplification technology. In any event, what * Shin’ya Nagasawa is a professor of Luxury Branding (LVMH Moët Hennessey.
    [Show full text]
  • "Made in Japan" by Akio Morita
    MADE IN JAPAN Akio Morita and SONY AKIO MORITA, EDWIN REINGOLD, MITSUKO SHIMOMURA SUMMARIES.COM is a concentrated business information service. Every week, subscribers are e-mailed a concise summary of a different business book. Each summary is about 8 pages long and contains the stripped-down essential ideas from the entire book in a time-saving format. By investing less than one hour per week in these summaries, subscribers gain a working knowledge of the top business titles. Subscriptions are available on a monthly or yearly basis. Further information is available at http://www.summaries.com. Made in Japan - Page 1 1. Finally, in 1950, the company released it’s first tape recorder -- a big, boxy machine weighing 35 kg (approx. 75 pounds) priced On May 7, 1946, a new company was formed in Tokyo called at 170,000 yen (about US$470). The machine worked well, but Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo or Tokyo Telecommunications nobody knew what a tape recorder was or what they could do Engineering Corporation. Today, that company, renamed as with one. Sony Corporation, is one of the world’s most successful ‘‘I then realized that having a unique technology and being able consumer electronics company, but at the time of establishment, to make unique products are not enough to keep a business the company’s prospects seemed far from certain. going. You have to sell the products, and to do that you have to The founders of the company were Masaru Ibuka, a 38-year old show the potential buyer the real value of what you are selling.
    [Show full text]
  • Akio Morita Interview
    CEO Interview. You refer frequently to the interrelationship between hardware and software, and of the innovations Sony has pioneered to produce the best possible benefits for people. Can Global Management you describe what you aspire to in linking hardware and software? hallenges C When we came up with the idea of a digital- recording on a small disk, with the joint effort of Phillips [a Dutch electronics firm], we were absolutely excited about this invention and the Akio Morita many promising possibilities. We thought it Chairman would be a historic innovation in sound recording technique with a similar impact as the Sony Corporation invention of Edison's phonograph recording. If we did not realize the benefit of software as early as we did, I wonder how long it would have taken for CD technology to be appreciated as much as it is now. Sony, by combining CBS Sony audio software to our CD hardware, created a new industry--the CD industry. The music industry as a result has grown with the transition from records to CDs. This success in hardware-software synergy illustrates how hardware alone, no matter how good, is not sufficient for either expediency nor enrichment of human life. Moreover, it supports Sony's Akio Morita started Sony with $500 from his belief in how a good relationship between family, beginning operations in the basement of software and hardware can promote the further a bombed out Tokyo department store. Sony's growth of both industries. rise began in 1952 when the company purchased the Japanese rights to Western Developing successful business and Electric's newly developed transistor.
    [Show full text]
  • FY2018 Corporate Strategy Meeting
    Corporate Strategy Meeting May 22, 2018 Sony Corporation • Good morning. My name is Kenichiro Yoshida. In April, I was appointed President and CEO. Thank you for coming today. • I am the 11th President in our company’s 72-year history. • As you may know, Sony was founded by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. • My predecessor, Mr. Hirai, and I are from a generation that did not work directly with our founders. Just once, however, I had an opportunity to talk closely with Mr. Morita. That was in New York, where I was assigned at the time, in September 1993, just two months before Mr. Morita suffered a brain hemorrhage. • Mr. Morita told me, “Up until now, Sony has learned many things from the United States. Some Japanese companies might even think that we have surpassed the U.S. But Sony needs to be humble and learn from the U.S. again.” • When I think back on this conversation, I believe the sense of urgency that Mr. Morita felt in 1993 was about the internet. In fact, the internet browser Netscape and the company Amazon both emerged just a year later in 1994. • In the following years, Sony achieved record profit in 1997, and the internet began to have a serious impact on Sony’s business as we entered the 21st century. • Now once again, I feel a sense of management urgency, a need for humility and the importance of a long-term view. 1 1. Business Portfolio 2. Corporate Direction 3. Initiatives of Each Business Segment 4. Financial Targets 5.
    [Show full text]