Akio Morita (盛田昭夫 Morita Akio, January 26, 1921 in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan – October 3, 1999 in Tokyo) was a co-founder of Sony Corporation with his friend Masaru Ibuka (April 11, 1908 - December 19, 1997).
Morita's family was involved in sake, miso and soy sauce production in the Chita Peninsula, Aichi Prefecture since 1665. He was the oldest of four siblings and his father Kyuzaemon trained him as a child to take over the family business. Akio, ...
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Akio Morita (盛田昭夫 Morita Akio, January 26, 1921 in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan – October 3, 1999 in Tokyo) was a co-founder of Sony Corporation with his friend Masaru Ibuka (April 11, 1908 - December 19, 1997).
Morita's family was involved in sake, miso and soy sauce production in the Chita Peninsula, Aichi Prefecture since 1665. He was the oldest of four siblings and his father Kyuzaemon trained him as a child to take over the family business. Akio, however, found his true calling in mathematics and physics, and in 1944 he graduated from Osaka Imperial University with a degree in physics. He later joined the navy and served as a lieutenant during World War II. During his service, Morita met his future partner Masaru Ibuka in the Navy's Wartime Research Committee.
On May 7, 1946, Morita and Ibuka founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation, the forerunner to Sony Corporation) with about 20 employees and initial capital of ¥190,000. Ibuka...
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