The Sony Story

Out of the rubble of World War II, in October of 1945 Masura Ibuka and a group of young engineers established Tokyo Tsushin Kenkyusho (Tokyo Telecommications Laboratory). On May 7, 1946 they were formally incorporated by Ibuka and Akio Morita as the Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K. K. (Tokyo Telecommications Engineering Corporation), their paid up capitol was the equivalent of 500 US dollars. To broaden their general appeal and establish a brand name their logo was selected to be a new word, Sony. It had no meaning in any language, which made it neutral, and it had a good sound to it. Even since this early beginning Sony has operated under its management concept of being free of preconceived ides, always seeking new concepts, encouraging creativity, and marketing new products that never existed before.
The Spirit on which Sony was founded remains dynamically alive today:
  • Do things other have not done
  • Keep one step ahead
  • Employ the highest level of technology
  • Deal with the world
  • Encourage the ability of each individual to the fullest
  • Maintain order in the organization based on the ability, performance, and personal character
The free creativity of each individual, stimulated out of this spirit, has sprouted in all sectors of Sony and has fostered to bear fruit. Such creativity is exercised daily in a comprehensive scope of technology covering major aspects of electronics, including semi-conductors, magnetic tapes, magnetic recording heads and cores, color picture tubes, circuitry, audio components, and precision mechanisms, as well as assembled products. Creativity in all of these fields within one organization provides a wide technology base that supports the strength of the Sony group. Today, the four letters S-O-N-Y are considered synonymous with products created out of the most advanced technology, which everyone can expect to be of the highest quality and reliability, giving superior performance. Sony, as an international enterprise, will continue to advance in it's task of enriching the lives of people around the world. To close this panel and go back to the main page click here.

Reprinted from the 1978 publication "This is Sony" .