Opto Science,inc.

What Opto Science,inc. does

Opto Science, Inc. (株式会社オプトサイエンス) is a privately held Japanese technical trading company (専門技術商社) founded in 1987 and headquartered in Tokyo, with additional sales offices in Osaka and Nagoya. The company imports and distributes advanced optical and photonics products from over 100 international manufacturers to Japanese customers, functioning as the technical bridge between overseas vendors and Japan's research, manufacturing, and academic ecosystem. Its product portfolio spans wavefront sensors (Phasics SID4 series), focus-tunable lenses and beam-steering mirrors (Optotune), fiber optic isolators/modulators (AFR), scientific cameras (Oxford Instruments-Andor), black coatings (Acktar), microlens arrays (aµs), glass polarizers (codixx), LED sources (Mightex), long-working-distance microscope optics (Infinity Photo-Optical), Mueller matrix polarimeters (Axometrics), strain polarimeters (ilis), lock-in amplifiers and AWGs (Zurich Instruments), quantum single-photon counters (ID Quantique), IQ modulators (Exail), and automated optical inspection systems (DIOPTIC). Target customers are Japanese enterprises, universities/research institutions, and government agencies requiring components and instruments for laser processing, optical communications, life sciences, microscopy, quantum computing, semiconductor, display, machine vision, and metrology applications.

Revenue mechanics consist primarily of one-time product sales of imported optical/photonic components and complete systems, supplemented by technical consultation, product selection support, and after-sales services as a value-added intermediary. The go-to-market is sales-led: a Japanese-language website with detailed vendor listings and product search, phone/direct sales from Tokyo HQ and the Osaka and Nagoya branch offices, participation in Japanese optical/physics conferences, and a LinkedIn presence. Shipping follows a unit-pricing model with free shipping above ¥50,000 and tiered surcharges for remote regions. No software platform, APIs, or proprietary products are offered; Opto Science does not develop or manufacture the products it sells.

Name

Opto Science,inc.

Legal name

株式会社オプトサイエンス (Opto Science, Inc.)

Website

https://www.optoscience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Opto Science is a privately held Japanese technical trading company founded in 1987 that imports and distributes advanced optical and photonics products from 100+ international manufacturers to Japanese enterprises, universities, and government institutions across laser processing, communications, life sciences, and metrology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Components Distribution

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)

Keywords

• Optical components distribution
• Photonics technology trading
• Scientific instrument import
• Fiber optic components
• Laser technology products

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokio

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Revenue generated through direct sales of imported optical and photonic products from overseas manufacturers to Japanese customers including enterprises, universities, and government institutions. Products include components, devices, modules/subsystems, and complete systems across various optical technology categories.
2. Technical Support Services: Provides technical consultation, product selection support, and after-sales support for the optical products they distribute, serving as a technical intermediary between overseas manufacturers and Japanese customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Opto Science is a Japanese technical trading company that imports and distributes advanced optical and photonic products from over 100 international manufacturers to Japanese customers. Its portfolio spans wavefront sensors, focus-tunable lenses, fiber optic components, polarimeters, lock-in amplifiers, AWGs, optical inspection systems, microlens arrays, light-absorbing coatings, glass polarizers, LED sources, and microscope optics. The company supplements distribution with Japanese-language technical consultation, product selection support, and after-sales service for enterprises, universities, and government institutions.

Product overview

Opto Science is a Japanese technical trading company (専門技術商社) established in 1987, specializing in the import and distribution of advanced optical and photonics products from overseas manufacturers. The product portfolio is broad and multi-vendor, encompassing: (1) Phasics wavefront sensors (SID4 series) for optical metrology; (2) Optotune focus-tunable lenses, ELM-F imaging lens combos, lens controllers (ICC/ECC/EL-E series), beam steering mirrors (MR/FMR series), beam shifters (BSW-20), and laser speckle reducers (LSR series); (3) Advanced Fiber Resources (AFR) fiber optic isolators, circulators, and Mach-Zehnder modulators; (4) Acktar black light-absorbing coatings (Metal Velvet, Lambertian Black, Maxi Black, Spectral Black, Hexa Black); (5) aµs precision micro lens arrays (SPL, LPL, SPC, APO, APR, APH and concave variants); (6) codixx colorPol glass polarizers across UV/VIS/IR/SuperThin/structured types; (7) Mightex Systems LED light sources (collimated, spotlights, deep-UV); (8) Infinity Photo-Optical long-working-distance microscope lenses (K2 DistaMax, InfiniProbe TS-160); (9) Axometrics Mueller matrix polarimeters (AxoScan, AxoStep) and ellipsometry/imaging systems; (10) ilis StrainScope real-time polarimeters for strain/stress measurement; (11) Zurich Instruments lock-in amplifiers (SHFLI, GHFLI) and HDAWG arbitrary waveform generators; (12) DIOPTIC ARGOS automated optical surface defect inspection systems. Target markets span laser processing, optical communications, life sciences, microscopy, quantum computing, aerospace, medical, agriculture, physics, metrology, display, semiconductor, robotics, sensing, and machine vision. The company also distributes Phi Drive precision motion stages. Sales are directed at corporate clients, universities, and government organizations in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phasics SID4 Series Wavefront Sensors

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered key vendor and new vendor.

• Exail (iXblue)key vendorTechnology or IntegrationExail (formerly iXblue) manufactures IQ modulators (MXIQ-LN series) which Opto Science distributes in Japan. Products include optical modulators used in fiber optics and telecommunications applications.
• Oxford Instruments - Andorkey vendorTechnology or IntegrationAndor Technology (now part of Oxford Instruments) manufactures scientific cameras including C-RED series SWIR cameras for satellite and space applications. Opto Science distributes their space-grade SWIR camera cores and high-speed cameras in Japan.
• ISDC (Infrared Systems Design Corporation)key vendorTechnology or IntegrationISDC manufactures blackbody calibration light sources including IR-574/301 models. Opto Science distributes their radiation thermometry and calibration products in Japan.
• Optotune (Switzerland)key vendorTechnology or IntegrationOptotune develops and manufactures focus-tunable lenses, 2D beam steering mirrors, laser speckle reducers, and beam shifters. The company specializes in active optical elements. Opto Science distributes their complete product lineup including EL-3-10, EL-7-20-TC, EL-12-30-TC, and EL-16-40-TC focus-tunable lenses.
• Phasicskey vendorTechnology or IntegrationPhasics manufactures wavefront sensors based on quadrilateral shearing interferometry technology. Their SID4 series wavefront sensors offer high resolution (850x720 measurement points) and high precision (10nm RMS wavefront accuracy). Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• Zurich Instrumentskey vendorTechnology or IntegrationZurich Instruments manufactures lock-in amplifiers, arbitrary waveform generators (HDAWG series), and scientific instruments. Products include SHFLI (8.5GHz), GHFLI (1.8GHz), and various signal analysis equipment. Opto Science distributes their complete product range in Japan.
• ID Quantique (IDQ)key vendorTechnology or IntegrationID Quantique manufactures superconducting nanowire single photon counters (SNSPD) and quantum key distribution systems. Opto Science distributes their quantum photonics products in Japan.
• Advanced Fiber Resources (AFR)key vendorTechnology or IntegrationAFR manufactures fiber optic components including high-power isolators (HI series, SteadiBeam, SeasonBeam, LaseGuard), circulators, modulators, and polarizers. Products support fiber laser and optical communication applications. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• Acktarkey vendorTechnology or IntegrationAcktar manufactures light-absorbing coatings and black foil products including Metal Velvet, Lambertian Black, Maxi Black, Spectral Black, and Hexa Black. These products offer extremely low reflectance for stray light suppression. Opto Science distributes their complete product line in Japan.
• codixxkey vendorTechnology or Integrationcodixx manufactures colorPol glass polarizers covering UV, VIS, and IR wavelength ranges (355-5000nm). Products include structured polarizers and SuperThin polarizers (90um thickness). Opto Science distributes their complete polarizer lineup in Japan.
• Axometricskey vendorTechnology or IntegrationAxometrics manufactures Mueller matrix polarimeters including AxoScan and AxoStep, ellipsometers, and LCD panel measurement systems. Products support display, semiconductor, and materials analysis applications. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• iliskey vendorTechnology or Integrationilis manufactures StrainScope real-time polarimeters for measuring residual stress in optical glass and semiconductor wafers (SiC, GaN). Products support quality control in manufacturing. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• DIOPTICkey vendorTechnology or IntegrationDIOPTIC manufactures ARGOS automatic optical surface inspection systems compliant with ISO 10110-7 for detecting surface defects on precision optical components. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• Infinity Photo-Opticalkey vendorTechnology or IntegrationInfinity Photo-Optical manufactures long working distance microscopes including K2 DistaMax and universal lenses such as InfiniProbe TS-160. Products support macro/micro imaging applications. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• Mightex Systemskey vendorTechnology or IntegrationMightex Systems manufactures LED light sources including collimated LEDs (365-2500nm), spotlights, and LED controllers. Products support machine vision, bio-photonics, and semiconductor applications. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• advanced microoptic systems (aµs)key vendorTechnology or Integrationaµs manufactures microlens arrays including single, line, square, rectangular, and hexagonal configurations. Pitch ranges from 10um to 4000um with various substrate materials. Opto Science distributes their products in Japan.
• Phi Drivenew vendorTechnology or IntegrationPhi Drive manufactures small 6-axis stages (PHI-SS-6DOF). Opto Science recently began distributing their products in Japan (new product announcement July 2026).

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics is a global supplier of optical components, lenses, filters, coatings, and imaging systems with a Japanese office serving R&D and OEM customers. It overlaps with Opto Science's product categories (optics, coatings, imaging lenses) and competes for the same Japanese enterprise and university buyers.
• Hakuto Co., Ltd. Hakuto is a long-established Japanese technical trading company (専門商社) importing and distributing advanced electronics, semiconductor equipment, and components from overseas manufacturers to Japanese customers. It shares Opto Science's exact business model — Japanese-language technical intermediary for imported advanced technology — though with a broader semiconductor/electronics focus rather than pure optics/photonics.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs is a global manufacturer and distributor of photonics components, optomechanics, lasers, fiber optics, and scientific cameras, with an established Japanese sales operation. It directly competes with Opto Science's vendor partners (Optotune, Phasics, etc.) for the same Japanese R&D customers and represents both a competitor and a benchmark for catalog breadth.
• Sigma Koki (OptoSigma): Sigma Koki / OptoSigma is a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of optical components, lenses, filters, and optomechanical systems serving R&D and industrial customers in Japan. It is the closest domestic analog to Opto Science's niche in optical and photonic component distribution, with overlapping customer segments in Japanese universities and manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• Excelitas Technologies: Excelitas Technologies is a global photonics and sensor technology company offering optics, lasers, LED light sources, detectors, and scientific cameras to industrial, medical, and research customers. Its product portfolio overlaps significantly with Opto Science's distributed catalog (Mightex LED sources, Andor cameras, AFR fiber components) and it has global direct sales reach into Japan.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu Photonics is a major Japanese manufacturer of optical sensors, photodetectors, cameras, and photonic devices serving scientific, medical, and industrial markets globally. While it is a manufacturer rather than a distributor, it represents a leading Japanese photonics incumbent whose product range (cameras, photodetectors, photon-counting systems) directly overlaps with several Opto Science-distributed lines (Oxford-Andor, ID Quantique SNSPD).
• Macnica Holdings: Macnica is one of Japan's largest independent technical trading companies, distributing semiconductors, networking, and electronic components from global vendors to Japanese enterprise and OEM customers. It overlaps with Opto Science's role as an authorized Japanese distributor for foreign technology vendors but operates at a much larger scale with a broader technology portfolio.
• Newport / MKS Instruments: Newport (part of MKS Instruments) is a global manufacturer and supplier of photonics, laser, optomechanics, and motion control products serving research and industrial customers, with a Japanese subsidiary. It overlaps with Opto Science's vendors (Phasics, Optotune, ID Quantique, DIOPTIC) and competes for the same advanced R&D and OEM photonics customers in Japan.
• Coherent Corp. Coherent is a global photonics and laser manufacturer serving materials processing, semiconductor, and scientific markets with direct sales operations in Japan. It competes with several of Opto Science's distributed vendors in lasers, fiber optics, and instrumentation, and represents the type of global incumbent that could disintermediate smaller Japanese distributors.

Regional players

• Tokyo Instruments, Inc. Tokyo Instruments is a Japanese technical trading company importing and distributing optical, laser, and scientific measurement components to domestic R&D and industrial customers. It is one of the closest direct comparables to Opto Science in terms of business model (import-and-distribute specialty photonics) and customer base (Japanese universities and manufacturers).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/optoscience

Compliance9 records

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 Opto Science,inc.