Konosuke Matsushita

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Konosuke Matsushita

Role / Field:

Japanese industrialist, founder of Panasonic, known as the "God of Management."

Born:

1894-11-27

Died:

1989-04-27

Century / Era:

1894s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Kōnosuke Matsushita (松下 幸之助, Matsushita Kōnosuke; 27 November 1894 – 27 April 1989) was a Japanese industrialist who founded Panasonic, the largest Japanese consumer electronics company. Matsushita is referred to as the "God of Management" in Japan. Kōnosuke Matsushita was born on 27 November 1894 in Wasamura, now part of Wakayama Prefecture. His father was an affluent landlord in the farming village of Wasa (part of present-day Wakayama city) and was one of the wealthiest men of his community. Shortly after Matsushita left school, he was sent away to Osaka to become an apprentice for a Japanese barbecue restaurant.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The business failed within a year, and Matsushita joined the Osaka Electric Light Company, an electrical utility company. During this period, he married Mumeno Iue, a friend of his sister. At the age of 22, he was promoted to the position of electrical inspector. In 1917, Matsushita left Osaka Electric Light Company to establish his own company. He set up his shop in the basement of his tenement where with his wife, his brother-in-law, and several assistants, he began producing product samples.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

However, most of Matsushita's assistants left the company, leaving only his wife and Iue, who played a key role as a salesman and manager. The early years of the company were difficult: he once had to pawn his wife's kimono when he found himself short on money. The company faced financial difficulties and was on the verge of bankruptcy until it received an unexpected order for a thousand insulator plates for electric fans. From there, Matsushita was able to continue producing his light sockets. Matsushita's products were originally marketed under the name brand of "National" and later moved on to the more recognizable names of Panasonic, Quasar and Technics.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1894 (1894-11-27): Birth of Konosuke Matsushita — Japanese industrialist, founder of Panasonic, known as the "God of Management."
2. 1917: 1917 Milestone — In 1917, Matsushita left Osaka Electric Light Company to establish his own company.
3. 1989 (1989-04-27): Passing & Historical Legacy — Konosuke Matsushita passed away on 1989-04-27, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Konosuke Matsushita

True or False: “Konosuke Matsushita's early career involved working for an electrical utility company before founding his own enterprise.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He joined the Osaka Electric Light Company after failing at a barbecue restaurant apprenticeship and was promoted to electrical inspector.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolphe Sax — Contemporary (Died in 1894) (1894): Belgian inventor who created the saxophone and revolutionized wind instruments.
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• Aldous Huxley — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): English writer and philosopher known for social satire and mystical explorations.
• A. J. Ayer — Contemporary (Died in 1989) (1989): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Abbie Hoffman — Contemporary (Died in 1989) (1989): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.
• Adnan Khayr Allah — Contemporary (Died in 1989) (1989): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.
• Abraham de Moivre — Shared historical date (11-27 · Died) (1754): Pioneering French mathematician known for complex numbers, probability theory, and the normal distribution.
• Ada Lovelace — Shared historical date (11-27 · Died) (1852): Pioneering mathematician recognized as the first computer programmer.
• A. K. Fazlul Huq — Shared historical date (04-27 · Died) (1962): Pakistani statesman and jurist, known as Sher-e-Bangla, a founding father of Pakistan.
• Albert Soboul — Shared historical date (04-27 · Born) (1914): Influential French historian specializing in the French Revolution and Napoleonic eras.
• 1894 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1894
• November 27 (11-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 27
• 1989 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1989
• April 27 (04-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 27

Frequently Asked Questions about Konosuke Matsushita