Book Review - Made in Japan by Akio Morita

The name of the author does ring a bell. He does not require any introduction. Akio Morita, a legend in his lifetime, founded SONY, one of the most powerful multi-national corporations in the world.

Akio Morita starts the book with Post World War II scenario. Everything was devastated. Hope was divided into shreds and was almost lost. But the morrow has to come after the night. History did turn a page. Hope was rekindled.

Akio then moves on to discuss his life. Being the eldest son of a family of sake brewers, he was expected to join his family business. But Akio, from his early days, had developed a keen interest in physics and electronics. And his father knew that when Akio was at this stuff, he was a man in his element. His father gave them the green signal and Masaru Ibuka, the co-founder, and Akio Morita went on to give the world what we today better know by the name SONY.

Akio also talks of the problems faced by Japan after the war, such as unemployment, extreme poverty, recession and then the reconstruction and weakening of Zaibatsu which encouraged the egalitarian and democratic style in Japan. Yes, phoenix was rising again from the ashes.

Akio then shows an impeccable contrast between the Eastern and Western styles of management and beautifully explains the elements of Japanese and SONY's style of management, the importance of competition, the creativity needed in three aspects : marketing, product planning and distribution system. He also stresses on the fact that everyone is treated like a family at SONY and is given equal opportunity to grow and foster.

The book is a sort of an autobiography. It tells us about how Akio Morita is as a man. How he led his life, his family and SONY. He firmly believes in "mottainai" philosophy which emphasizes on being skilled and efficient and using the available resources judiciously. Perhaps the same reason Japan is successful despite having little natural resources.

The book definitely is a door to understand the Japanese style of working, management and a glass through which we can see the things innate to SONY. It is so enchanting that once you finish it, you might yourself want to work with such a man and such a company.

Well, this book is just another thing which SONY and Akio Morita can tag with those three words, "Made in Japan".