Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.

In 1948, Showa 23, the company acquired land for a factory at 456 Ebizuka-cho, Hamamatsu City, and established the Tokai Electronic Research Institute.

Established Tokai Electronic Research Institute in 1948

Founded Tokai Electronics Laboratory.

In early 1951, the phototube (later PV29, PV26) initially handled by Horiuchi gained promising inquiries and began to show signs of success.

Horiuchi’s efforts began to show signs of success as a promising inquiry came in for phototubes later called the PV29 and PV26.

In 1953, Hamamatsu Television Co., Ltd. was established with the philosophy of linking optical technology and industry.

Founded Hamamatsu Television Co., Ltd. in 1953

Established Hamamatsu TV Co., Ltd.

By early 1955, chemical analysis equipment using photomultiplier tubes was produced, and domestic demand increased, but mainly imported products were used. At that time, a client said, 'If you make photomultiplier tubes, I will call you Hamamatsu Television,' which motivated engineers to develop photomultiplier tubes.

One day at the end of 1958, orders for luminance adjustment of TV cathode-ray tubes came in at 1,000 units per month.

Preparation for the big leap: laying the cornerstone for solid-state products and system products.

In 1971, microcomputers were launched and rapidly spread. Our company was among the first to pioneer a new field with computer-compatible television cameras. The C1000 (computer-compatible video camera) is a high-precision camera equipped with basic performance and functions for image processing and measurement, unlike traditional cameras designed solely for monitoring or viewing.

Development of silicon photodiodes

Developed silicon photodiodes based on the technical expertise accumulated through the development and manufacture of electron tubes.

Established Toyooka Manufacturing Plant

Opened our Toyooka Factory.

Established a joint venture company in West Germany (now Germany).

Launched streak camera system

Placed streak camera systems on the market.

Developed vidicon camera for computers.

Successfully captured auroras from space for the first time in the world, using a camera launched into space to image auroras from space

In 1978, the scientific satellite 'EXOS-A' (later named 'Kyokkō (Aurora)') was launched from Uchinoura Coast, and 20 images taken 20 days later on the 214th orbit of Earth captured auroras in 8 of them

A space-borne TV camera we developed helped succeed in capturing aurora images from outer space for the first time in the world.

Held the first Photon Fair in Osaka and Tokyo in 1980

Decided to introduce a business division system

In 1983, the company changed its name to Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. and has continued to pursue optical technology to this day.

Changed company name to Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. in 1983

Company name changed to Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.

PIAS named one of the “10 Great New Products 1984” by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun in Japan and also earned an R&D Award from R&D Magazine in the USA.

Since 1987 (Showa 62), the company has appointed outside directors.

Since 1987 (Showa 62), the company has also appointed outside auditors.

The Crown Prince (now Emperor Emeritus) visited Toyooka Manufacturing Plant

Japanese Prince Akihito (now the emperor emeritus) visited our Toyooka Factory.

Established Central Research Institute

Opened our Hamamatsu Photonics Central Research Laboratory.

Established a local subsidiary in Italy.

Established an affiliated company in Italy.

Established Tsuda Manufacturing and launched Micro Focus X-ray Source.

Opened our Miyakoda Factory.

Placed micro focus X-ray sources on the market.

Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Company's stock registered on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and achieved the world's first success in indoor cultivation of rice using semiconductor lasers.

Company's stock registered on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Succeeded for the first time in the world in artificial indoor cultivation of rice plants using semiconductor lasers. This plant factory succeeded in artificially cultivating rice plants in an indoor farm, for the first time in the world using high-power semiconductor lasers instead of sunlight. This experiment relied on semiconductor lasers that were fabricated by applying our technology developed for laser fusion research. Those semiconductor lasers were designed to emit light at 680 nm where the chloroplasts in rice leaves photosynthesize most vigorously. Compared to conventional cultivation methods used in plant factories, this new method applying semiconductor lasers drastically cuts the power cost and shortens the cultivation period, offering the possibility of eliminating global food shortage in the future.

Since 2004 (Heisei 16), we have been operating with a team of 2 people

Established a local subsidiary (sales subsidiary) in China.

Established an affiliated company as sales subsidiary in China.

Signed the Hamamatsu Light Declaration 2013 with three local universities to make Hamamatsu a city at the forefront of light.

Signed the "Photonics Declaration in Hamamatsu 2013 - for establishing Hamamatsu as a Preeminent Photonics City" along with 3 nearby universities.

Our SSD, APD and photomultiplier tubes contributed to detection of Higgs bosons.

Established a local subsidiary in Taiwan.

20-inch photomultiplier tubes for neutrino observation were certified as an IEEE Milestone.

In 2015 (Heisei 27), we operated with a team of 2 people

Professor Takashi Kajita of the University of Tokyo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for research at the Super-Kamiokande with photomultiplier tubes installed.

Nobel Prize in physics awarded to Takaaki Kajita, professor of University of Tokyo for research conducted at Super-Kamiokande equipped with a large number of our photomultiplier tubes.

Since 2016 (Heisei 28), we have been conducting continuous self-assessment of the Board of Directors

Acquired Energetiq Technology, Inc., a subsidiary manufacturing and selling light sources for semiconductor inspection equipment.

Subsidiary acquisition of Energetiq Technology, Inc. which manufactures and sells light sources for semiconductor testing equipment.

In 2020 (Reiwa 2), we expanded to a team of 3 people

Established a local subsidiary in South Korea.

Established an affiliated company in Korea.

From September 2020 (Reiwa 2), we outsourced the effectiveness evaluation to an external third party

In December 2020 (Reiwa 2), we introduced the Executive Officer System

In 2021 (Reiwa 3), we expanded to a team of 4 people

Masanori Maruno appointed as President.

Tadashi Maruno took office as president and CEO.

Established Yokohama IT Development Office.

Opened Yokohama IT Development Office.

Acquired Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics A/S), a manufacturer and seller of photonic crystal fibers and laser products.

Acquired Fairchild Imaging, Inc., a manufacturer and seller of CMOS image sensors.

Subsidiary acquisition of Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics A/S) which manufactures and sells high-performance fiber lasers and photonic crystal fibers.

Subsidiary acquisition of Fairchild Imaging, Inc. which manufactures and sells high-performance CMOS image sensors.