26 Facts About Akio Morita

Akio Morita was a Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony along with Masaru Ibuka.

Akio Morita was the oldest of four siblings and his father Kyuzaemon trained him as a child to take over the family business.

Akio Morita found his true calling in mathematics and physics, and in 1944 he graduated from Osaka Imperial University with a degree in physics.

Akio Morita was later commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served in World War II.

Akio Morita saw a newspaper article about Ibuka's new venture and, after some correspondence, chose to join him in Tokyo.

Akio Morita was an advocate for all the products made by Sony.

However, since the radio was slightly too big to fit in a shirt pocket, Akio Morita made his employees wear shirts with slightly larger pockets to give the radio a "pocket sized" appearance.

Akio Morita founded Sony Corporation of America in 1960.

Akio Morita filled many positions in this manner, and inspired other Japanese companies to do the same.

In March 1968, Akio Morita set up a joint venture in Japan between Sony and CBS Records, with him as president, to manufacture "software" for Sony's hardware.

Akio Morita became president of Sony in 1971, taking over from Ibuka who had served from 1950 to 1971.

Ibuka retired in 1976 and Akio Morita was named chairman of the company.

Akio Morita suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1993 while playing tennis and on November 25,1994, stepped down as Sony chairman to be succeeded by Ohga.

Akio Morita was vice chairman of the Japan Business Federation, and was a member of the Japan-US Economic Relations Group, known as the "Wise Men's Group".

Akio Morita helped General Motors with their acquisition of an interest in Isuzu Motors in 1972.

Akio Morita was the third Japanese chairman of the Trilateral Commission.

In 1966, Akio Morita wrote a book called Gakureki Muyo Ron, where he stresses that school records are not important to success or one's business skills.

In 1986, Akio Morita wrote an autobiography titled Made in Japan.

Akio Morita co-authored the 1991 book The Japan That Can Say No with politician Shintaro Ishihara, where they criticized American business practices and encouraged Japanese to take a more independent role in business and foreign affairs.

In 1972, Akio Morita received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

Akio Morita was awarded the Albert Medal by the United Kingdom's Royal Society of Arts in 1982, the first Japanese to receive the honor.

Akio Morita was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1992 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993.

Akio Morita received the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from the University of Manitoba in 1987.

Akio Morita was posthumously awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1999.

Akio Morita, who loved to play golf and tennis and to watch movies when rainy, suffered a stroke in 1993, during a game of tennis.

On October 3,1999, Akio Morita died of pneumonia at the age of 78 in a Tokyo hospital, where he had been admitted since August 1999.