Tamaya Sextant

Tamaya sextants are high-precision nautical instruments manufactured by Tamaya Technics Inc., a company with a history dating back to 1675. Originally established by Tozaemon Tamaya as a lens and spectacle shop called Tamaya Megane-ten, the company evolved into a leading producer of optical and surveying equipment. In 1922, the firm (then known as Tamaya Shoten) manufactured the first domestically produced sextant in Japan.

Today, Tamaya is globally recognized for its unique 'Spica' and 'Jupiter' models, which are valued for combining lightweight aluminum frames with high-accuracy bronze arcs. Since 2017, the brand has been 100% owned by Kyowa Electronic Instruments Co., Ltd., though it continues to operate under its historic identity. Manufacturing remains centered in Japan, specifically at the company's facilities in Tokyo, maintaining a legacy of craftsmanship that has served mariners for over a century.