1950sTHE BIRTH OF Brother International CorporationRoy Nakagawa, a Japanese American (and came from a family of six boys (not to mention father of Roger Nakagawa, currently a Senior three girls). All of the male siblings were involved Vice President at Brother), never dreamed that in the business.one of his wartime Japanese language students, With nothing to lose (they had lost virtually all a boy from Brooklyn named Max Hugel, would their money on previous ventures), Roy, Max eventually end up as his partner – and after and Bernie approached Brother and asked to that, as Deputy Director of the C.I.A. Then become offcial U.S. distributors. Mr. Yasui, Board again, Roy never dreamed he’d be founder of a Chairman of Brother Industries Ltd., (who matched company that, in a mere six decades, would be their brazenness with his own), said “yes,” with a market leader in a diverse range of technology one small provision: they had one month to sell communication categories.1,000 sewing machines or the deal was off. As During World War II, Roy enlisted in the army, they had no money for advertising or marketing, where his assignment was to teach Japanese to or return tickets to the U.S. for that matter, the trio American soldiers at the University of Michigan. improvised…they called U.S.A. dealers collect! One of his students was Max Hugel. After the war, Curious as to who would be calling them collect Roy moved to Japan to assist General Douglas from Japan, many dealers accepted the calls – MacArthur as part of his relocation front plan. as well as Max, Roy and Bernie’s earnest sales pitches.Max Hugel and Bernie Etzin, an American born in Kobe, Japan, formed a company called Asiatic Before long, the 1,000 machines (and Max, Commerce, which exported Japanese-made Roy and Bernie) were on their way to the States, novelties to the U.S. While meeting with his old and the company known as Brother International teacher, Max told Roy about their company and Corporation was on its way to becoming a their extensive U.S. contacts. Roy, who found his company celebrating its 60th anniversary work with the military less than fulflling, soon and over $1.7 billion in sales annually.joined the fedging company.Not bad for three friends and a dream.About the same time, Roy met Mr. Yasui, a Japanese gentleman who owned a company that made sewing machines. Mr. Yasui was looking for someone to distribute his company’s sewing machines in the U.S. Mr. Yasui’s sewing machines had a reputation for quality and reliability. As an added bonus, the company had a memorable American name: Brother.YEARSThe name was based on the fact that the company’s founder, who was also the “inventor” of the frst home sewing machine made in Japan, SALES $7 8