Famous Quotes
I firmly believe Japan must change…
Akio Morita
[On choosing the name Sony] We wanted a new name that could be recognised anywhere in the world, one that could be pronounced the same in any language.
Akio Morita
We in the free world can do great things. We proved it in Japan by changing the image of ‘made in Japan’ from something shoddy to something fine.
Akio Morita
Comparatively speaking, Japanese business leaders seem to possess a kind of Oriental sixth sense. Instead of juxtaposing facts, they look at an idea from a holistic point of view, and relay this information to their sixth sense in order to decide on a course of action. So they have a better grasp of the situation than someone who sees it only in parts.
Akio Morita
I discovered very quickly that in Western countries, employers would get rid of some personnel when a recession seemed imminent. It was a shock to me, because in Japan we never do this, unless we are completely desperate. If the administration takes the risk and responsibility of hiring personnel, then it also assumes responsibility for giving them work. It’s not the employee who is responsible for this agreement. Also, when there is a recession, why should the personnel suffer because of a decision made by the administration who gave them a job? That’s my point of view. That’s why, in periods of prosperity, we increase the number of our employees with great prudence. Once hired, we try to make them understand our idea of ‘shared destiny’ and our intention, if the business has to deal with a recession, to give up certain benefits so that they stay with us.
Akio Morita
Everybody makes mistakes. Ibuka and I made quite a few. We lost money on the Chromaton process, and we failed with the L-cassette (a large format audio cassette which would have created better sound than the quarter inch cassettes currently on the market). We also had to unite a number of companies to keep the Beta-max format alive. But the important thing is that these errors are human and natural; in the long run, they did not compromise the future of the company.
Akio Morita
In Japan, a company doesn’t start out with an entrepreneur who wants his workers to play the role of tools. He creates his company and hires personnel to help him carry out his ideas. Once hired, the personnel are considered collaborators and not machines to make money.
Akio Morita
