Sony Corporation Timeline

Main

Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka found Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

May 1946

Japan's first transistor radio, the TR-55, launched.

September 1955

Company name changed to Sony Corporation

January 1958

The world's smallest and lightest all-transistor TV, TV5-303, launched.

May 1962

Philanthropic foundation in America

1972

Sony receives the first Emmy ever awarded to a Japanese company

May 1973

Launch of first stereo cassette player “Walkman.”

July 1979

World's first CD player luanched

October 1982

CBS Records Inc. acuired

January 1988

It was renamed Sony Music Entertainment Inc. in January 1991.

Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. acquired

June 1989

It was renamed Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. in August 1991.

Sony has pursued environmental initiatives

1990

"Star Class" program started for student scholarships

1991

Take Back Recycling program

2000

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation teams up with Sony

July 11, 2006

"Bio Battery" which generates electricity from glucose developed.

August 2007

The Sony Take Back Recycling Program

September 2007

First to sign the “Manufacturers’ Commitment to Responsible E-Waste Recycling

2008

Sony announced the "Road to Zero"

April 2011

Sony Electronics team up with EPA

July 20, 2011