Sony's Success: Akio Morita

Sony is a well-known electrical manufacturer whose name is associated with innovative products such as pocket-sized transistor radio, Walkman. At present’s days, radio and Walkman become so common that both young and old people can learn through this little box of information and relaxation. Sony’s secret for being so successful is to continually develop new products. Sony’s growing process can also be said as the process to invest continually in new technology and produce the most creative products around the world. Akio Morita was not only the co-founder of Sony but also the first one achieve the goal of “enterprise globalization” in Japanese business history, thus, he was on “Time” magazine’s cover in 1982. He led Sony into the top 500 companies in the world. He was Sony’s emperor and spiritual leader. What was the clue to successes of Akio Morita? And what kind of personality contributed to his success? In order to answer those questions, I will examine Akio Morita’s early life and his entrepreneurial path.

Akio Morita was born on January 26, 1921 in Nagoya. Morita’s family was most well known as the oldest and most famous production sake tradition family in the region. Akio Morita was the oldest brother among other four children: he was expected to inherit his family business.

Under the influences from Akio Morita’s mother’s love for classical music, young Akio Morita was fascinated by sound or anything that creates sounds. When Akio Morita’s father bought him the first electric gramophone, he was thrilled, the sound that was created by the friction was not only exciting but also confusing.

How did this electric gramophone work? Akio Morita started to read related books and studied on his ...

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...“Made in Japan” means great product, great quality with great services. Sony moved “Made in Japan” from expression of cheap products to high quality and great product

October3, 1999, the founder of Sony Corporation, honorary Chairman Akio Morita died at a Tokyo Hospital at the age of 78 due to ineffective treatment for pneumonia. Although he has gone, but he did left with clues of his successes: creativity, courage, hardworking ship, persistence, and determination. As Sony’s spiritual leader, his innovative spiritual will always encourage Sony’s employees to advance. Moreover, along with Akio Morita’s death, the “ idol time” of Japanese business community has been down to the last scene. Akio Morita did not only create Sony, but more importantly, his business philosophy and spirit of innovation represented the Japanese economy and reality in miniature.