Olympus medical and precision equipment

Founded in 1919 as Takachiho Seisakusho, Olympus has evolved from a Japanese microscope manufacturer into a global leader in medical technology. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company originally expanded from precision optics into consumer cameras, becoming a household name in photography. However, in a major strategic shift completed between 2020 and 2023, Olympus divested its imaging (camera) division to OM Digital Solutions and its scientific solutions (microscopy) division to Bain Capital (operating as Evident Corporation) to focus exclusively on medical devices.

Today, Olympus is a pure-play MedTech company, commanding roughly 70% of the global market for gastrointestinal endoscopes. While its roots and headquarters remain firmly in Japan, its manufacturing and R&D operations are distributed globally, with major facilities in Japan, Europe, and the United States to serve international healthcare providers. The company is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is owned by a diverse group of institutional investors rather than a single parent corporation.