Masayoshi Son founded SoftBank in 1981 as a distributor of computer software.
Son established the company in Tokyo, initially focusing on software distribution for personal computers. The business expanded into computer magazines, trade shows, telecommunications, and internet investments. Its early growth reflected the rapid spread of personal computers in Japan during the 1980s.
SoftBank became especially prominent after investing in internet companies and acquiring major telecommunications assets. It bought the American mobile operator Sprint in 2013 and acquired the British chip-design company Arm in 2016. SoftBank’s name can cause confusion because it began as a software distributor but later became a major technology investment group. The founder’s surname is Son, not SoftBank; Son remains one of Japan’s best-known technology executives.