Dr. ( KBE; February 28, 1919 in Tokyo – September 10, 2012) was one of the pioneers of postwar Japanese manufacturing. He served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Scout of the

Scout Association of Japan The is the major Scouting organization of Japan. Starting with boys only, the organization was known as Boy Scouts of Japan from 1922 to 1971, and as Boy Scouts of Nippon from 1971 to 1995, when it became coeducational in all sections, leading to ...

, serving for 12 years from 1994, and was the former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the

International Christian University is a non-denominational private university located in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan, commonly known as ICU. With the efforts of Prince Takamatsu, General Douglas MacArthur, and BOJ President Hisato Ichimada, ICU was established in 1949 as the first ...

Background

Intrigued at the workings of the household radio during his childhood, Saba chose to study electrical engineering. He received a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

from the

University of Tokyo , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

in December 1941 and went to work for the

Toshiba Corporation , commonly known as Toshiba and stylized as TOSHIBA, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure system ...

(before he was called to active service in the

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

on February 1, 1942), where he later became President and CEO. In 1956-1957 he served as a representative of Toshiba to

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...

Schenectady, New York Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...

. He was conferred by ICU with an

honorary doctor An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

of letters in 2009. Saba served as Chairman of the Japan Machinery Foundation (today, the

Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association The is a Japanese trade organization for the electronics and IT industries. It was formed in 2000 from two earlier organizations, the Electronic Industries Association of Japan and the Japan Electronic Industries Development Association. Histor ...

); Vice Chairman for the

Japan Federation of Economic Organizations The is an economic organization founded in May 2002 by amalgamation of Keidanren (, Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, established 1946; name sometimes used alone as abbreviation for whole organization) and Nikkeiren (, Japan Federatio ...

; Chairman of the Japan Machinery Federation; and Counselor to the

Bank of Japan The is the central bank of Japan.Louis Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric. (2005). "Nihon Ginkō" in The bank is often called for short. It has its headquarters in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo. History Like most modern Japanese instituti ...

. He was named a member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences or ''Kungliga Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien'' (IVA), founded on 24 October 1919 by King Gustaf V, is one of the royal academies in Sweden. The academy is an independent organisation, which promo ...

; fellow of the

Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), also known as the Royal Society of Arts, is a London-based organisation committed to finding practical solutions to social challenges. The RSA acronym is used m ...

; and foreign associate to the

National Academy of Engineering The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Engineering is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy ...

. During his tenure as president of Toshiba from 1980 to July 1987, he helped bring portable computers to the consumer market. Saba funneled vast resources into research and development, especially in the areas of semiconductors, computers, and telecommunications. In the Toshiba-Kongsberg scandal, Saba and President Sugiichiro Watari resigned from their official posts, though he remained as adviser to the board rather than having to sever a 45-year tie. Well into his 80s he was seen almost daily in the office. Saba was also the first Japanese director of

Imperial Chemical Industries Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) was a British chemical company. It was, for much of its history, the largest manufacturer in Britain. It was formed by the merger of four leading British chemical companies in 1926. Its headquarters were at M ...

as a non-executive in 1985. Saba was awarded the Medal with Blue Ribbon (藍綬褒章, ''ranjuhōshō'') in 1980; First Class of the

Order of the Sacred Treasure The is a Japanese order, established on 4 January 1888 by Emperor Meiji as the Order of Meiji. Originally awarded in eight classes (from 8th to 1st, in ascending order of importance), since 2003 it has been awarded in six classes, the lowest ...

in 1990; the Commander's Cross (''Großes Verdienstkreuz'') of the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

; and the Honorary Knight Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

in 1990. In 1999 he also received the highest distinction of the

, the

Golden Pheasant Award The is the highest award for adult leaders in the Scout Association of Japan. It is awarded by the Chief Scout of Japan, awarded for eminent achievement and meritorious service to the Association for a period of at least twenty years. It may be ...

. Saba's fundraising efforts supported the centenary Japan Festival event of the

Japan Society of the UK The Japan Society of the United Kingdom, founded in 1891, is an organisation that fosters British-Japanese relations. It is the oldest such organisation dedicated to inter-cultural understanding and positive relationships between a European Count ...

, including the first sumo tournament held outside Japan.

References

External links

* http://web.icu.ac.jp/www2/en/20120915-3.html * http://oldsite.scout.org/en/multi_media/images/global/news/2004/2007_mr_shoichi_saba * https://web.archive.org/web/20090327024400/http://www.scout.org/en/content/download/11624/94866/file/Triennial_Report_EN_5.pdf * http://ethw.org/Shoichi_Saba * http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/84474c9c-0e1d-11e2-8d92-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3oAb5Mgb0 * http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/71/Toshiba-Corporation.html * http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article3549276.ece {{DEFAULTSORT:Saba, Shoichi 1919 births 2012 deaths Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Scouting in Japan Foreign associates of the National Academy of Engineering Chief Scouts