[1] The power distribution system after the war was unreliable, so there was a strong demand for storage batteries for electric lights that could be used in the case of blackouts.

Horiba acquired discarded storage batteries and selenium rectifiers which the company Nihon Denchi had produced for wartime use.

When an oscillator stopped working in the middle of an operation, Masao Horiba was called upon to make emergency repairs.

When it proved difficult to buy low-cost reliable replacements, Horiba started producing electrolytic capacitors.

He partnered with an investor but their plans to build a capacitor plant fell through when the Korean war caused Japanese metal prices to rise.

[1] He saw a potential market for reliable, low-cost pH meters in Japan's food and chemical industries, and partnered with Kitahama Works, a major scientific instruments company, to sell them.

[1] Masao Horiba visited the United States in 1958 as part of a study tour for delegates approved by the Japan Productivity Center.

[3][2] The next major product developed at the Horiba company resulted from the work of Masahiro Oura, a young researcher who saw the potential for an auto-emissions measurement instrument.

He served as the chairman of the Innovation Initiative Network Japan (Innovation-Net) established in 2009 to revitalize regional economies by promoting collaboration between industries and universities.

[7] Masao Horiba was also a founder and past president of the Association of Asian Business Incubation (AABI) which encourages support of initiatives throughout Asia, not just in Japan.

He published several books, including Keiei Kokoroe-cho (The Management Handbook) and Iyanara Yamero (Joy and Fun).

[3] He advocated that work should be meaningful and fulfilling, and that employees should be encouraged to be creative, take risks, and question accepted practices.