BOOMBOX: AIWA

AIWA - is a defunct brand of Japanese consumer electronics company.

Aiwa Co., Ltd. was established on June 20th, 1951 as Ai Xing Electrical Industry Co., Ltd. The company then changed its name to Aiwa Co., Ltd. on March 10, 1959. The word "Aiwa" means "Yes" in Arabic and in Chinese is referred to Ai Hua which means love. In 1960, Aiwa released Japan's first cassette tape recorder. In 1969 it had formed a capital alliance with Sony Corporation.

It experienced considerable success in the 1970s and 1980s producing audio and video equipment that was sold around the world.

Aiwa had a number of electronics 'firsts' including: Japan's first cassette tape recorder, Japan's first stereo cassette deck, the first company to manufacture digital audio tape (DAT) products, the first to market a recording headphone stereo, and leading in mini systems.

During the 1990s the market for Aiwa's core products, stereo HiFi systems and analogue radios, saw considerable competition, softening prices and slack demand. Aiwa became a volume producer competing on price and gradually reduced its spending on research and development of new products.
When the digital revolution began in the late 1990s Aiwa was ill-equipped to provide the products that consumers desired.

As a result, the Corporation slid towards bankruptcy until it was purchased by competitor Sony Corporation.
As of October 1, 2002, Aiwa ceased to be a separate company and became a wholly owned division of Sony Corporation. As of January 2005, Sony had ended all new product development and as of May 14th, 2008 Sony had announced the end of brand.