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Founder
Nozomu Matsumoto
The long road to Pioneer's current success began in 1932, when 26-year old Nozomu Matsumoto first heard a console-type electric phonograph with a dynamic speaker attached to it. The rich contrast of the sound compared to magnetic type speakers then in use created a desire in Matsumoto to build a dynamic speaker of his own. Five years later, in 1937, he hand crafted the A-8 and christened the new speaker "Pioneer." Matsumoto started a small factory to manufacture and repair radios and speakers the following year, 1938, the official year of Pioneer's founding.
Matsumoto's sons joined the family business and Pioneer saw sales steadily increase along with the company's reputation as a producer of quality speakers. By 1957 - twenty years after the first hand crafted speaker was made - Pioneer had orders for speakers from major manufacturers to use in their own complete stereo systems. Five years later, Pioneer embarked on the production and sale of its own complete stereo sets, marking a major shift from component maker to finished goods manufacturer. The separate stereo was one of Nozomu Matsumoto's greatest achievements. He created the concept, and made relentless efforts to create markets for it. He also devised a "one-step distribution system, a completely new form of distribution at the time that bypassed wholesales and built a nationwide network of sales offices.
Matsumoto continued to follow the origins of the company by creating new technologies. In 1975, when VCRs were still becoming popular, Pioneer halted R&D efforts on VCRs and began work on Laser Disc - the precursor to today's DVD and Blu-ray Disc technology. Over the years, Pioneer has proved its expertise in optical disc technology building on the early days of Laser Disc to continue product innovation.
Even after Matsumoto removed himself from day-to-day decision-making, his spirit continued to shape Pioneer's corporate culture and serve as an inspiration for each of its employees. The strength of the influence of a dynamic entrepreneur remains.
Matsumoto died in 1988 at the age of 83, leaving behind a very close-knit family. As 6,000 mourners lined the roadway to pay their respects, friends provided a tender farewell as they spoke of a man who had taken a small speaker factory and repair shop, and in 50 years built it into a multi-billion dollar international consumer electronics manufacturer - Pioneer Corporation.