Photon Is Our Business
Hamamatsu Photonics is a leading manufacturer of devices for the generation and measurement of visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light. These devices include photomultipliers, photodiodes, infrared detectors, image sensors, scientific cameras, and light sources. We also offer x-ray detectors and sources, as well as specialized photometric systems for semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical development, nondestructive inspection, and academic research.

Hamamatsu is dedicated to the betterment of life through light-based technologies. Based on this corporate philosophy, we conduct basic research on the fundamental properties of light, while also making extensive R&D efforts in the development of new products. Our devices are used in scientific, industrial, and commercial applications around the world. We have a global network of operations.

The spirit of pursuing the unknown and unexplored - inherited from our predecessors
Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. started as a small firm established in 1953 by Heihachiro Horiuchi who studied under the guidance of Dr. Kenjiro Takayanagi now respectfully called the “father of Japanese television.” Since then, we have inherited the “photoelectric technology” developed by Dr. Takayanagi for converting light into electrical signals as well as “the spirit of pursuing unknown and unexplored realms” which led him to the achievement of displaying the Japanese character “?” on a cathode-ray tube for the first time in the world. Over the past 65 years, we have been consistently engaged in developing photoelectric devices and their application products while moving forward along with the continuing advances in technologies of light.

Just as electrons and electronics brought immeasurable richness to our lives in the 20th century, the 21th century will be the age of photons (particles of light) and photonics. Spurred by the unlimited possibilities of light, photonics technology is increasingly applied in a wide range of fields. However, the interaction of light with matter is still hardly understood at the present time. By pursuing the ultimate limits of photoelectric conversion technology to approach the true nature of light, Hamamatsu Photonics has been challenging the unknown where no one has yet explored, with the aim of creating new industries by utilizing light and acquiring new knowledges.

In Japan: Global headquarters, manufacturing, and research facilities are located in Hamamatsu, Japan. Here we have four primary manufacturing divisions: Electron Tube Division (for products such as photomultiplier tubes, scintillators, light sources, and x-ray sources); Solid State Division (photodiodes, silicon photomultipliers, image sensors, infrared detectors, x-ray detectors, MEMS devices); Systems Division (scientific cameras, photometric systems); and Laser Group (laser diodes, quantum cascade lasers). Tokyo Stock Exchange, TYO: 6965.

In the Americas: Hamamatsu Corporation is the North American subsidiary of Hamamatsu Photonics. Our headquarters is in Bridgewater, NJ and we have a branch office in San Jose, CA.

In Europe: Hamamatsu Photonics Europe GmbH is the regional headquarters. Primary sales offices are located in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Satellite sales offices in several other countries.

In Asia: Hamamatsu Photonics (China) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai provides primary sales support in China.