Global Corporate Information

"I want to gain worldwide recognition with Japan-made microscopes." Takeshi Yamashita, founded Olympus to realize his dream of manufacturing microscopes in Japan. The Company was begun backed by an investment from Tokiwa Shokai, a trading company he had been working for, granted in thanks for his huge success in sugar trading.

In its lineup of microscopes, the new company introduced seven types of products, including the Asahi, in 1920. Meeting various needs, each was developed for a different application, ranging from medicine and sericulture to use in primary and junior high school education. Both practical and of high quality, Olympus microscopes were appreciated by researchers who could not afford expensive imported microscopes.

Building on its early achievements, Olympus has continually pursued the latest optical technology to enhance its products, which today encompass picture-taking microscopes and laser microscopes as well as automated pathology and telepathology systems. In pursuing its goals, Olympus is supporting myriad researchers around the world.

"Researchers'needs drive the development of imaging technology for the future." As bases of new value creation, Olympus has established the Olympus Bio Imaging Laboratory in cooperation with the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research (JFCR) and the RIKEN BSI-Olympus Collaboration Center jointly with RIKEN, Japan. These two entities proactively encourage leading-edge research and technological development.

In addition, the Company actively consults with researchers and medical experts around the world to find out how its products can be improved and carefully addresses their concerns to ensure further contributions to the development of bioscience for next-generation health care.

Olympus has also taken on the responsibility of keeping researchers apprised of the outcomes of such feedback. For example, we have developed a microscope with all the required capabilities packaged in one complete housing and that is effective while being easy to use, even for those who are not used to microscope operation. In this manner, Olympus greatly contributes to the enhancement of research efficiencies for busy researchers and microscope beginners.