Sony

On 1 April 2021, Sony restructured into a holding company model, adopting the name Sony Group Corporation, with the electronics business becoming Sony Corporation. This strategic reorganization allowed for clearer operational separation and development of its diverse business sectors.

On 3 December 1994, Sony released the original PlayStation video game console in Japan. This marked Sony’s successful entry into the gaming industry; the PlayStation went on to become one of the most influential consoles in history, shaping modern gaming culture and technology.

In 1989, Sony purchased Columbia Pictures Entertainment, furthering its diversification into film and television. This move transformed Sony into a major player in the entertainment industry, integrating content production with its electronics distribution channels.

In January 1988, Sony acquired CBS Records for approximately $2 billion, marking its entry into the music business. This acquisition expanded Sony’s portfolio, adding a major record label to its operations and diversifying its entertainment offerings significantly.

On 1 July 1979, Sony released the Walkman TPS‑L2, the first portable stereo cassette player. This device revolutionized personal music consumption by enabling private, portable listening, and became a cultural icon of the 1980s worldwide.

In 1975, Sony launched the Betamax videocassette recorder, introducing a new era of home video recording with higher-quality format than its competitors. Despite its technological superiority, Betamax ultimately lost the format war to VHS due to longer recording times and licensing strategies of VHS consortia.

In 1968, Sony introduced the Trinitron color television, which became renowned for its superior picture quality and design. Trinitron technology helped Sony become the world’s largest TV manufacturer by annual revenue, maintaining its lead for decades.

On 8 February 1960, Sony established its first overseas subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, headquartered at 25 Madison Avenue in New York City. This strategic move facilitated Sony’s entry and expansion into the U.S. market, and symbolized the global ambitions of the company.

In January 1958, the company officially changed its name from Tokyo Tsūshin Kōgyō to “Sony,” a more internationally accessible brand. This rebranding was pivotal in its expansion beyond Japan and contributed to growing recognition of Sony as a global electronics innovator.

In December 1957, Sony launched the TR‑63, a truly “pocketable” transistor radio that became a global hit, particularly in the U.S. With its compact size and use of standard 9‑volt batteries, the model sold millions of units and solidified Sony’s reputation in consumer electronics worldwide.

In August 1955, Tokyo Tsūshin Kōgyō introduced the TR‑55, Japan’s and Sony’s first commercially produced transistor radio. The device, utilizing Sony‑manufactured transistors, marked a milestone in consumer electronics by helping usher in the portable radio era across Japan.

On 7 May 1946, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita founded Tokyo Tsūshin Kōgyō (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district. Beginning with capital of ¥190,000 and just eight employees, the company initially built Japan’s first tape recorder, the Type‑G, laying the foundation for what would become a global electronics powerhouse in the post‑war era.