50 years after NY debut, Sony ready for more uncharted waters

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20200915N Sony VR headset

Sony was an early innovator in virtual reality headsets with Project Morpheus, now known as the PlayStation VR. © Reuters

RYUSHIRO KODAIRA, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- Nearly half a century since its historic debut on the New York Stock Exchange, Sony is at a crossroads as to whether it can stay a trailblazer in the boardroom and on the factory floor in a fast-changing world.

A penchant for new, creative solutions has long been part of Sony's DNA. Founded after World War II in 1946, the company was still considered an upstart during Japan's postwar economic resurgence. It had trouble persuading banks to finance large-scale capital investment and product development. The Japanese securities market was still underdeveloped.

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