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Akio Morita's Life
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Birth Date
Akio Morita was born January 26, 1921 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. His parents owned a Sake Brewing company that has been around for many generations. This is where he got his first taste of business. I believe this is what created him as the famous business man we know of today. -
Graduates from Osaka Imperial University
Akio Morita graduated this a degree in physics. He was always a math or science guy so it wasn't that suprising. Going to college to a lot of courage because his father was under the impression that he would take over the business for him. His father wasn't happy but, he was understanding. Shorty after graduation he joined the army. -
Enlisting in the military
At the age of 21, Akio Morita joined the Navy during WWII. He quickly rose in ranking during his time there. This was an important event because he met his soon to be co-founder of Sony Mr. Masaru Ibuka. They quickly became friends due to all of their common intrest. They also kept in touch after they left the Navy. -
Telecommunications Engineering Corporation
Akio Morita and his co-founder finally started their own company. Telecommunications Engineering Corporation, later know as Sony, was started from the basement of a department store. They first started making rice cookers and other family household produtcs, but that failed. After that failure, they began making electronics. -
Tape Recorder
Sony, launched Akio Morita's design of the tape recorder. This was the very first successful product that Sony released. This producted start Sony's and Akio Morita's successful, and valued reputation. -
Moves to U.S.A
Akio Morita Moves to the United States with his family to further the company. They moved to New York in hopes of being the first foreign Company to offer shares in America. As president it only seemed fitting that he stayed in New York to make sure his company could reach its highest potential the United States. This was a big move not only for him, but his wife and kids. He oftened worried how his company back in Japan would do in his absence. -
Honorary Chairman of Sony Corporation
Akio Morita was appointed Founder and Honorary Chairman of Sony Corporation. This was an obvious choice because of all of his hard work and detication to his company. By this time in his life he has had many health complications. He has suffered a stroke that left him with side effects. Shortly after this honor, he was chosen by "Time" as one of the twenty most influential business leaders of the 20th Century. -
Death Date
Japan and Sony lost a very important man this day. Mr. Moritas death was devistating for everyone, even many in the United States. Morita died of pneumonia five years after his resignation from Sony. He left his legacy after he had passed, and they still try to keep his values in mind to this day.
