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The Rise of Sony: From Humble Beginnings to Global Empire

Overcoming the Odds in Post-War Japan

Akio Morita was born in 1921 into a family that had run a brewery for 14 generations. However, Morita was more interested in tinkering with radios and photography than taking over the family business. His father surprisingly allowed him to study physics and engineering instead of economics.

This decision proved fortuitous, as Morita was able to design weapons for the Navy during World War II rather than fight on the front lines. It was there that he met his future business partner, Masaru Ibuka. The two bonded over their shared passion for technology and desire to use it to improve people's lives, rather than for war.

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