Stringer also touched upon the work Ohga did to expand Sony beyond the hardware business. Ohga established CBS/Sony Records as Japan's largest record company and later led the acquisitions of CBS Records (now Sony Music Entertainment) in 1988 and Columbia Pictures Entertainment (now Sony Pictures Entertainment) in 1989.

"By redefining Sony as a company encompassing both hardware and software, Ohga-san succeeded where other Japanese companies failed. It is no exaggeration to attribute Sony’s evolution beyond audio and video products into music, movies and games, and subsequent transformation into a global entertainment leader to Ohga-san’s foresight and vision," Stringer said.

Ohga played an important role in the wider world of Japanese business, serving on major industry groups and trade bodies, and was active in Japan's classical music scene. He was appointed chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in 1999.

The IDG News Service