Inami

What Inami does

Inami & Co., Ltd. (株式会社イナミ) is a Tokyo-headquartered, family-controlled Japanese manufacturer of precision ophthalmic medical devices, founded in 1924 and currently led by Representative Director Inami Takayuki (since 2011). The company operates from a headquarters in Bunkyo, Tokyo with co-located East Japan sales, regional sales bases in Osaka and Kyushu, and a dedicated R&D and manufacturing facility - the Bijogaku (Bijigaya) Research Laboratory - in Toda, Saitama. It holds ISO 13485:2016 certification and exports to approximately 70 countries via distributors while selling directly in Japan.

Its core technology is precision-machined stainless-steel and titanium ophthalmic micro-surgical instruments, manufactured in-house with a trained artisanal workforce. The product line spans roughly 895 SKUs across four pillars: reusable surgical instruments (648+ items including forceps, scissors, speculums, needle holders, cannulas, and spatulas), single-use disposables (233+ items including surgical knives, needles, absorbent sponges, and eye shields), examination instruments (slit lamps, microscopes, perimeters, tonometers, fundus cameras), and clinical equipment (sliding tables, patient chairs, optical stands, sterilizers). Differentiated devices include the TMH micro-hook for ab interno trabeculotomy, the Clover Ring (CR1) pupil expander, and the Signature Collection of surgeon-named instruments. Newer diagnostic and therapy platforms are the idra / idra X multi-modal dry-eye and MGD diagnostic system and the AQUA CEL IPL dry-eye therapy device; the idra line applies computer vision (infrared meibography, interferometry-based lipid-layer quantification, and NIBUT ring-distortion analysis).

The business model is B2B hardware sales to ophthalmic surgeons, eye hospitals, and clinics, priced per unit (consumables from a few thousand yen to major equipment above ¥5 million), with additional revenue from custom instrument manufacturing (200+ bespoke instruments per year), instrument repair services (including a 45%-discount replacement option), training products (SimulEYE kits), and a small direct-to-consumer channel for ophthalmic-beauty and dry-eye-care SKUs via an online shop, Amazon Japan, and Rakuten. International sales are distributor-led across approximately 70 countries (Pelion Surgical, Device Optical, Diamatrix, Grafton Optical, SBM Sistemi, FE-Group); domestic sales use direct field sales through the Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyushu bases. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding history and no subsidiary or parent-company structure.

Name

Inami

Legal name

株式会社イナミ

Website

https://inami.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Inami is a 100-year-old Japanese manufacturer of precision ophthalmic surgical instruments, examination equipment, and dry-eye diagnostic and therapy devices, selling approximately 895 SKUs to eye hospitals, clinics, and surgeons across roughly 70 countries via direct sales in Japan and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Open & Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments (Handheld, Laparoscopic, MIS) (HLAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Glaucoma Diagnostics & Surgical Devices (Tonometry, Gonioscopy, MIGS, Drainage Implants, Laser Trabeculoplasty) (HLAHAJAI), Oculoplastics & Lacrimal Surgical Devices (Ptosis/Orbital Tools, DCR/Lacrimal Stents, Facial Implants) (HLAHAJAL)

Keywords

• Ophthalmic surgical instruments
• Eye surgery forceps and scissors
• Ophthalmic diagnostic equipment
• Dry eye MGD diagnostics
• Custom medical instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Surgical Instruments: Precision microsurgical steel instruments including forceps, scissors, speculums, needle holders, cannulas, and handpieces for ophthalmic surgery. Products include specialty items named after surgeons (e.g., Mishima, Barreqer, Castroviejo).
2. Examination Instruments: Optical examination equipment including slit lamps, microscopes, trial lenses, perimeters, tonometers, and diagnostic imaging devices.
3. Clinical Equipment: 诊疗設備 including sliding tables, patient chairs, optical tables, and sterilization equipment.
4. Disposable Products: Surgical knives, cannulas, needles, sponges, eye shields, and Wet&Dry systems for single-use applications.
5. Dry Eye/MGD Products: idra diagnostic systems, Aqua Cell IPL devices, Mybo shampoo, and related dry eye treatment products.
6. Custom Manufacturing: Custom-made instruments based on surgeon specifications, producing over 200 custom instruments annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Inami manufactures and sells precision ophthalmic surgical instruments (forceps, scissors, speculums, needle holders, cannulas, spatulas) along with disposable surgical supplies, optical examination equipment (slit lamps, microscopes, perimeters, tonometers, fundus cameras), clinical furniture, and specialty diagnostic/therapeutic systems such as the idra dry-eye diagnostic platform, AQUA CEL IPL dry-eye treatment device, and Tanito Micro-Hook (TMH) for glaucoma surgery. Offerings are sold to eye hospitals, ophthalmic clinics, and eye surgeons in Japan via direct sales and in approximately 70 countries through a distributor network, with additional custom instrument manufacturing and repair services for surgeon customers.

Product overview

Inami is a Japanese manufacturer of precision ophthalmic surgical instruments and medical devices, established in 1924. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of over 895 products organized into four main categories: Surgical Instruments (648+ products including forceps, scissors, speculums, needle holders, cannulas, spatulas for cataract, vitreoretinal, glaucoma, corneal, and external eye surgery), Disposables (233+ products including surgical knives, needles, sponges, eye shields), Examination Instruments (27+ products including slit lamps, microscopes, perimeters, tonometers, fundus cameras), and Clinical Equipment (11+ products including tables, chairs, optical stands, sterilizers). The company also offers specialized diagnostic/treatment devices including the idra (SI-302S) dry eye/MGD diagnostic system, AQUA CEL IPL therapy device, and TMH glaucoma surgery micro-hook. Unique offerings include custom instrument manufacturing (200+ custom/year), SimulEYE training kits, and the Signature Collection of instruments developed with surgeon collaborators. Products are sold to approximately 70 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• idra: MGD/Dry eye diagnostic device for comprehensive eye examination
• ミライアイ (Mirai Eye)
• AQUA CEL
• VITBROS
• FLAPPER
• INAMI × TITANIUM
• シグネチャーコレクション (Signature Collection)

Products and services

• idra Dry Eye Diagnostic Device (SI-302S) Multi-functional ophthalmic diagnostic device for dry-eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) combining meibography, interferometry, non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), and tear meniscus measurement in one compact unit, providing non-invasive and quantitative ocular surface examination for eye clinics and dry-eye specialists.
• idra X Dry Eye Diagnostic Device Advanced version of the idra dry-eye diagnostic device launched in 2025, offering meibography, interferometry, NIBUT, and tear meniscus measurement in a compact form for eye clinics and ophthalmic diagnostic practices.
• AQUA CEL IPL Dry Eye Treatment Device (JI-100) IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapeutic device for dry-eye and MGD treatment featuring a sapphire IPL light guide/filter for stable energy delivery and ATC technology with built-in cooling and real-time temperature monitoring, intended for ophthalmic clinics and dry-eye treatment centers.
• LaraMED Class B Autoclave (WI-700) Class B medical instrument autoclave/sterilizer for ophthalmic clinics and eye hospitals meeting European sterilization standards for surgical instrument reprocessing.
• CR1 Clover Ring Pupil Expansion Device Polyurethane four-leaf clover shaped pupil expansion device for cataract surgery, placed on the iris with iris hooks and inserted/retrieved using capsule forceps, reusable up to three times, for ophthalmic surgeons performing cataract procedures.
• Ophthalmic Surgical Instruments (Forceps, Scissors, Speculums, Needle Holders, Cannulas, Spatulas) Over 648 precision ophthalmic surgical instruments including forceps (129+ products), scissors (40+), speculums (43+), needle holders (28+), cannulas/handpieces (62+), and spatulas (14+), with specialized instruments for cataract, vitreoretinal, glaucoma, corneal, refractive/ICL, and external eye surgery for ophthalmic surgeons.
• Ophthalmic Disposables (Surgical Knives, Needles, Sponges, Eye Shields) Over 233 single-use disposable ophthalmic products including surgical knives (160+), cannulas/needles (19+), absorbent sponges (8+), eye shields/marking pens/drapes (6+), and Wet&Dry systems (3+) for ophthalmic surgical and examination use.
• Ophthalmic Examination Instruments (Slit Lamps, Microscopes, Perimeters, Tonometers) 27+ ophthalmic examination instruments including slit lamps, microscopes, visual field testers/perimeters, tonometers, trial lenses, orthoptics devices, retinal imaging equipment, and fundus cameras for eye clinics and ophthalmic diagnostic use.
• Ophthalmic Clinical Equipment (Tables, Chairs, Optical Stands, Sterilizers) 11+ ophthalmic clinical equipment products including sliding tables, patient chairs, optical stands, and cleaning/sterilization equipment for ophthalmic clinics, examination rooms, and surgical suites.
• SimulEYE Surgical Training Kit Realistic simulation-eye training kits for ophthalmic surgical practice, offered in procedure-specific variants including iris suturing, IOL fixation, CCC (continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis) creation, and small pupil training, distributed by Inami for residency programs, universities, and surgical training institutions.
• M.QA Absorbent Sponge (S-5B) M.QA brand highly absorbent surgical sponge with a fine-tip shape, absorbing up to 20 times its own weight with instant absorption speed, used for fluid management during ophthalmic surgical procedures.
• TMH (Tanito ab interno Trabeculotomy Micro-hook) Specialized micro-hook for ab interno trabeculotomy glaucoma surgery with a sharp tip for direct entry into Schlemm's canal, available in three tip configurations (straight, left, right) and in reusable and disposable versions for glaucoma surgeons.
• Synoptiscope (Synoptophore) Synoptophore device for strabismus measurement and binocular vision function assessment (Grade I, II, III) and treatment/training of strabismus patients, featuring 27 sets of slides with optional Haidinger brushes model for ARC/NRC testing, for orthoptists and ophthalmic clinics.
• M-CHARTS (KDM-4) Metamorphopsia Chart M-CHARTS Version 3.0 metamorphopsia quantification chart for evaluating distortion in retinal diseases, used by retinal specialists and ophthalmic clinics for quantifying visual distortion in patients with macular and retinal pathology.
• LHALA JET Pore Cleansing Device Pore cleansing beauty device for deep cleansing distributed in Japan by Inami, sourced from Korea.
• NeoVoir I Plus Skin Analysis Equipment Skin analysis equipment using high-resolution camera and four types of LED light sources to analyze pores, spots, wrinkles, sebum, skin texture, and moisture levels, distributed in Japan by Inami and not classified as a medical device.
• Custom-Made Instrument Manufacturing Service Custom ophthalmic surgical instrument manufacturing service producing over 200 custom instruments annually alongside 800+ existing products, offering both semi-custom (modifications to existing designs) and full-custom (new designs requiring new technology) options tailored to surgeon specifications, for practicing ophthalmic surgeons and instrument developers.
• Surgical Instrument Repair Service Repair services for ophthalmic surgical instruments with a quick service option providing a new replacement at 45% discount for faster turnaround, offered to ophthalmic surgeons, eye hospitals, and clinics with existing Inami instruments.
• Mybo Shampoo Tea Tree 1.0 Eye-area shampoo with tea tree oil formulated for lid hygiene at home, supporting meibomian gland function and helping prevent eye-area troubles, sold as a home-care dry-eye adjunct product.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 product SKUs in catalog
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diamatrix Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based distributor of ophthalmic devices. Diamatrix distributes Inami products in the US market, particularly for specialty surgical instruments.
• SBM SistemiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian distributor partner for Inami ophthalmic instruments in the European market.
• SimulEYEminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSimulation eye training products distributed by Inami. Provides realistic training models for ophthalmic surgical practice.
• LIME研究会 (LIME Research Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical research association for ophthalmic knowledge exchange and clinical collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haag-Streit: Swiss manufacturer of precision ophthalmic instruments including slit lamps, surgical microscopes, tonometers, and perimeters. Overlaps with Inami's examination instrument line and serves the same hospital/clinic ophthalmology customers.
• Topcon Healthcare: Japanese ophthalmic device maker with broad portfolio of diagnostic imaging, refraction, and surgical equipment. Direct competitor in examination instruments, imaging, and clinical equipment sold through similar ophthalmic channels.
• Nidek: Japanese manufacturer of ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical equipment, including examination devices, lasers, and surgical instruments. Direct Japanese peer with overlapping surgical instrument, examination equipment, and dry eye diagnostic portfolios.
• Katena Products: US-based specialty manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical instruments, forceps, and knives with a comparable catalog of precision cataract/glaucoma/cornea instruments. Highly comparable mid-sized surgical instrument specialist competing in the same surgeon-customer segment.
• ASICO (American Surgical Instruments Company): US manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical instruments including forceps, scissors, and specialty cataract/glaucoma tools. Comparable mid-market instrument manufacturer serving the same surgical specialty segment.
• Moria Surgical: French specialty maker of ophthalmic surgical instruments, particularly for corneal, refractive, and cataract surgery. Comparable mid-sized surgical instrument company with similar surgeon-collaboration model and premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bausch + Lomb Surgical (Storz Ophthalmics): Global ophthalmic surgical and vision care major with comprehensive instrument, IOL, and equipment portfolio. Competes across nearly all of Inami's surgical instrument and examination categories but as a much larger multi-product incumbent.
• Alcon: Largest global eye care company with broad surgical, vision care, and pharmaceutical franchises. Competes with Inami in surgical instruments, IOLs, and ophthalmic equipment, but as a global diversified incumbent.
• Carl Zeiss Meditec: German premium ophthalmic equipment maker specializing in surgical microscopes, lasers, and diagnostic devices. Overlaps with Inami's examination equipment and surgical instrument lines as a global high-end incumbent.

Others

• Diamatrix Ltd. US-based ophthalmic device distributor that partners with Inami for the US market. Included as a channel/ecosystem peer illustrating Inami's go-to-market dependency, not as a direct product competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/inami.japan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inami-co-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inami