When you think of Sony today, you probably imagine sleek headphones, gaming consoles, or cinematic cameras. But rewind to post-war Japan in 1946, and the picture couldn’t be more different. Sony didn’t start as a tech giant - it began as a tiny radio repair shop in a bomb-damaged department store in Tokyo.Back then, Japan was rebuilding from the ruins of World War II. Resources were scarce, but what the country had in abundance was ingenuity. Two young engineers, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, saw opportunity where others saw rubble. They opened a small workshop with just a few employees and a big dream: to bring Japanese technology to the world.Their first projects weren’t glamorous. Fixing radios, repairing equipment, tinkering with gadgets - these were the humble beginnings. But that hands-on work gave them something priceless: insight into how people used technology and how it could be improved.Soon, the team shifted from repairing to reimagining. They built Japan’s first tape recorder in 1950, then took a bold leap into consumer electronics. By 1955, they had launched Japan’s first transistor radio, compact enough to fit in your pocket. For a generation that wanted freedom and music on the move, this was revolutionary.That little radio became Sony’s breakthrough, and the name “Sony” itself was chosen to reflect a modern, youthful, and international vision. From there, the company never looked back, constantly pushing boundaries with products like the Walkman, the PlayStation, and innovations that redefined entertainment.What started as a repair shop became a launchpad for creativity, risk-taking, and bold ideas that transformed a war-torn nation’s image and reshaped global culture.The takeaway for today’s brands? Great companies don’t always start with great products. Sometimes, they start by solving small problems, listening closely, and daring to imagine what could be.

10 From Radio Repairs to Global Icons: Sony’s Unexpected Beginning

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10 From Radio Repairs to Global Icons: Sony’s Unexpected Beginning

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