Biographies
Michiko Ogawa
Director of Technics Project
Panasonic Corporation
Michiko Ogawa is responsible for the growth strategies of the audio business within the Home Entertainment Business Division of the Appliances Company, Panasonic.
Ogawa began her career at the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company – later Panasonic Corporation - in 1986, having graduated from the Science and Technology Department at Keio University, Japan.
In the early years of her career, Ogawa was part of the team within the Acoustic Research Laboratory that planned, researched and developed technologies for the commercialisation of audio equipment. She was instrumental in developing the world’s first ultra-slim, large-diaphragm speaker, the Technics AFP1000 in 1988, which was used by the Vienna State Opera; in addition the SST-1 backload horn-type speaker on which she also worked is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In addition to her career achievements, Ogawa is also a key figure on the classical jazz scene in Japan. She began studying classical piano at the age of three and learned jazz by listening to records that her father played. At university she formed a jazz band and in 1993, she resumed performing as a solo jazz pianist. She has played at highly prestigious events, most recently with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra in Osaka. Ms Ogawa has released a total of 14 CDs.
Combining her love of music and complementary knowledge of acoustics and technology, Ogawa is currently Director of the Technics project in the Home Entertainment Business Division of Panasonic.