The Walkman The device was built in 1978 by audio-division engineer Nobutoshi Kihara for Sony co-chairman Akio Morita, who wanted to be able to listen to operas during his frequent trans-Pacific plane trips. Morita hated the name “Walkman” and asked that it be changed, but relented after being told by junior executives that a promotion campaign had already begun using the brand name and that it would be too expensive to change
Home / Questions / Which personal device was released in 1979 with the name of the Soundabout in many countries including the US, Freestyle in Sweden and the Stowaway in the UK but is now best known by the name of its Japanese version?