The world famous Sony brand includes televisions, camcorders, smartphones, and other high-tech electronic products. The Japanese entrepreneur Akio Morita was able to turn the company into a transnational corporation. The outstanding physicist, excellent diplomat and writer received the Order of the Sacred Treasure of the first degree for exceptional services to the state.
In the industry of the Land of the Rising Sun, Akio Morita has become a symbol of an entire era. It is thanks to the excellent manager that the phrase "Made in Japan" has become a worldwide guarantee of the highest quality. The secret of Akio Morita's success was the ability to set big goals and achieve them, never lose faith in yourself.
Choosing the future
The biography of the future businessman began in 1921. The boy was born in Nagoya on January 20. The family, in which Akio was the eldest child, has been producing sake for more than a dozen centuries. It was the firstborn who was to inherit the business. From early childhood, the father taught his son responsibility.
Akio spent almost all his free time at his father's office. If the son's opinion did not coincide with his parent's, then Akio had to present his arguments with reason. The adults explained to their offspring that it is necessary to understand the matter well yourself, and not shift everything onto others.
The atmosphere in the school was very strict. During his studies, Akio became interested in mathematics and physics. Interest in electronics was awakened by a new turntable acquired by his father. Morita began buying literature on this science. The hobby took a long time. The student realized in time that hobby requires appropriate education. He decided to continue his studies at the Eighth Graduate School in the Department of Natural Sciences. After additional and intensive studies during the year Akio managed to become her student.
Professor Hattori became a favorite teacher for the young man. He saw the success of the student and arranged for him to meet with the outstanding scientist Assad. He taught applied physics at Osaka University. As a result, the student entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. In 1944, Auchio finished his studies, and in 1945 he began work in the Aviation Technology Directorate. The young specialist soon became a naval engineer. In Yokosuka, they met Masaru Ibuka, the future co-founder of Sony Corporation.
Foundation of the company
Akio was offered a job at the Japan Precision Instruments Company under the guidance of a new acquaintance. After leaving the family business, Morita focused entirely on new activities. After the military refused to further cooperation with businessman Masaru Ibuka, together with Akio Morita, in 1946 they founded the "Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation". Young people have become good friends and business partners. Management fell on Morita's shoulders, Ibuka took over the technical side.
The new company did not specialize. However, the goal of the developers was to create a fundamentally new technology. In 1949 they introduced magnetic recording tape, and a year later the first domestic tape recorder went on sale. Then a patent for the transistor was acquired in New York. Akio himself went after him, deciding to bring the Asian and American markets closer together and explore the possibilities of marketing new products.
Since the name of the company turned out to be difficult for Westerners to pronounce, the founders transformed it into "Sony". The first audio player was named "Walkman". The device fit in a pocket. Included with him were headphones to listen to music without disturbing the people around him. For the first time in the country, he began to use the competitive component when hiring, not the connections of the applicant. Morita taught managers not to be afraid of mistakes, and not to duplicate them several times, be sure to analyze and correct.
The leader sought to be involved in the work for the common good. He believed that the leader is obliged to know all employees of his organization, to achieve family feeling in his work. In 1962, the company introduced the first LCD TV, and in 1964, the corporation entered the market with a VCR.
Success
More than half of Sony's products were sent abroad. At the initiative of Morita in the States, it was planned to organize "Sony Corporation of America". Akio himself took up the solution to the issue in New York. He chose Fifth Avenue for the showroom.
At that time, the entrepreneur arranged his personal life. He became a family man. He moved to the United States and brought his family with him. At that time, he and his wife had two sons and a daughter. The wife turned out to be a worthy companion: Yoshiko helped her husband in strengthening business relations, settling in a new place.
Morita was interested in the essence of "American business". He managed to combine Eastern and Western experiences and find a middle ground. In 1971, the entrepreneur took over the leadership of the Sony Corporation. Five years later, he became chairman of the company's board of directors.
Life outside of work
In 1990, Fortune magazine named a diplomatic and friendly Japanese man among the 25 most charming people of the year. Together with Shintaro Ishihara Morita published the book "Japan That Can Say No". The publication compared the approach to business of Americans and Japanese.
The brilliant businessman turned out to be not only a capable engineer, but also an athlete. Already at an advanced age, the entrepreneur discovered golf. He started skiing for the first time at 60, became interested in water skiing at the same time and started playing tennis.
The businessman admitted that with the help of exercises he strengthens self-confidence. Morita considered her to be an extremely important component of success.
Akio was fond of painting and music. The entrepreneur's favorite composer was Beethoven. The Sony president visited Europe because of the great musicians.
Morita left the post of head of the corporation in 1994. He left this life in 1999, on October 3. An outstanding person made a huge contribution not only to the development of his enterprise, but also to the entire country. Thanks to his efforts, the word “Made in Japan” still stands for reliable and quality product.
