Inducted: May 2012

 

Cofounded, with Akio Morita, Sony Corp. (originally Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp.) in 1946. Recognized the inherent value of the transistor, which he licensed from Bell Labs, making Sony one of the first to apply the technology to non-military uses.Built Japan's first tape recorder (the Type-G), the first Japanese transistor radio and the world's first transistorized television set. He is credited for driving much of Sony's design and engineering innovation, leading the company from a small post-war outfit of 20 people to the best-known electronics brand in the world and the forerunner to Apple, Samsung and a host of others. Was president of Sony from 1950 to 1971, and chairman from 1971 and 1976. Received Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Founders Medal in 1972. College nickname was "genius inventor."

April 11, 1908 – December 19, 1997