The development of
the Japanese optical industry is very much linked to the expansion policy of
the Japanese government in the 19th and 20th century.
Emperor Mutsuhito (1852-1912) came to the throne in February 1867 and at once
dispensed with the restraints imposed for centuries by the military leaders
(shoguns) on successive emperors. This restoration marked the beginning of Japan’s
modernization, known as the Meiji Period and lasting until the end of Mutsuhito’s
reign. Restrictions on foreign trade were removed, and the Japanese borrowed
heavily from Western methods. A new Army was modeled on the German; a new Navy
on the British. Higher education was formed on the principles of the German
philosopher Wilhelm von Humboldt; a centralized bureaucratic government was
set up, and the country began a swift process of industrialization. The second
half of the Meiji Period saw the beginning of Japanese expansion on the Asiatic
mainland, marked by the penetration of Korea and Manchuria and by victory in
the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5. During the reign of the Emperor Yoshihito
(1912-1926), known as the Taisho Period, Japan emerged as one of the Great Powers
and as an emerging economy, running behind the industrial revolution of the
western world. Economic growth was hampered - however - by various military
conflicts with continental-Asian enemies. Many industries in Japan were set
up by national and local governments to supply governmental organizations with
special equipment.
After many centuries of importing optical instruments - mainly from Europe - Japanese government advocated and ordered the establishment of a national optical industry. On 25 July 1917 two optical industries (in fact a special department of both Tokyo Keiki Seisaku Sho and Iwaki Glass Manufacturers) merged and formed a new company: Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, abbreviated to Nippon Kogaku K.K. (Japanese Optical Industry Company). Early 1918 Fujii Lens Seizo Sho joined the new company.
It opened a factory
in Ohi in the Shinagawa district in Tokyo, Japan. This Ohi-factory is still
the main office of Nikon Corporation, which nowadays also has factories and
production units in other towns in Japan, and in other countries like Thailand
and China. Nikon Corporation also has two sales departments in Europe (the Netherlands)
and in the United States of America (New York).
Nikon and Nikkor are registered trade marks of Nikon Corporation. In April 1946
the name Nikon was derived from the company’s name NIpponKOgakuN. Nikkor
was used since 1932 for its lenses. As per 1 April 1988 Nippon Kogaku K.K. adopted
its new company’s name Nikon Corporation.
Nippon Kogaku K.K. was actually set up to serve the Japanese armed forces. A group of technicians, assisted by 8 contracted German specialists, made optical surveying equipment (telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, and range finders) for the Japanese imperial navy, army and - later - air force only. In the 1930´s also photographic lenses were produced for fellow camera manufacturers. War time increased the need of high end instruments in large quantities. Marketing, consumer relations, public relations and cost effectiveness were not an issue. Nippon Kogaku became one of the largest optical industries in Japan with some tens of thousands op employees.
After WWII foreign currency was desperately needed to feed domestic economy. Military equipment was not needed, not even allowed to be produced. Nippon Kogaku - considerably slimmed down - carefully stroke out upon new paths: camera market.
In 1948 its first range finder camera (partly cribbed from Leitz and Contax) was introduced. Because of the ´Nippon´ film format (24 x 32 mm.) and its relatively high price the camera wasn´t a success on the domestic and export market. An unexpected but welcome introduction on the American market by a few enthusiastic American photojournalists and by a gifted public relation professional (Joseph Ehrenreich) Nikon cameras and Nikkor lenses gathered an almost indestructible reputation in Northern America.
In 1959 Nikon´s first single lens reflex camera - Nikon F - was introduced: a real workhorse like its successors Nikon F2, F3, F4, F5 and Nikon F6. In 1986 the first auto focus SLR (F501/N2020) for amateurs and in 1988 the professional AF-camera - Nikon F4 - was introduced. For amateur photographers the (unsuccessful) Nikkorex, the very tough Nikkormat-series, compact FM/FE-series and a whole range of AF-, APS-, compact, underwater and movie cameras - with varying success - were marketed. In 1997 the first Coolpix (digital compact camera) was introduced, followed by Nikon´s first professional digital SLR camera, the Nikon D1 in 1999.
After the German camera industry had to bow its head in the early 1970´s for the constantly improving Japanese optical industry, the (late 1980´s) re-named company - Nikon Corporation - became the world´s second most wanted camera and lens manufacturer. To date Nikon, together with its rival Canon, is still one of the leading optical companies in the world. It produces cameras, lenses, binoculars, steppers, sports optics, measuring instruments and almost everything else fitted with an optical lens.
Nikon Corporation is - since its foundation - division/member of the Mitsubishi Keiretsu, one of the world´s largest industrial group. It has production facilities in (among others) Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines and official representations in all major countries all over the world.
Despite its presence in all continents and the 2004 announced Consumer Relations Management, Nikon's head quarters in Tokyo remain almost - due to the inscrutable Japanese communication culture - inaccessible for most foreigners.
For more information please visit the company’s web site at http://www.nikon.com/index.htm
Apart from photographic equipment Nikon Corporation is one of the world's leading producers of steppers. (As to May 2010 No. 1 is Applied Materials, No. 2 is Tokyo Electron, No. 3 is ASML and No. 4 is Nikon). With a stepper it is possible to reduce integrated circuits down to microscopic sizes via a complex process called photolithography, enabling to manufacture chips for computer processors, memory sticks, etc.
Manufacturing with clockwork precision and with minimal tolerance, based on intelligent engineering and artistic design, may be a prerequisite to produce high-end cameras and lenses, but quality control always remains an important factor in the production process. Nikon Corporation has a reputation of employing inexorable inspectors who are testing each product tenaciously. In addition to that Japan has - since 1954 - created an institute which is unique in its kind:
Japan (Nippon) Camera and optical instruments Inspection and testing Institute, famous for its golden JCII sticker (see above) on many cameras, lenses and other photographic gear. It was formed to inspect all cameras exported from Japan in order to maintain quality standards. It is said that when of one production run of 300 cameras 5 or more cameras did not meet the minimum requirements of the JCII the whole party was sent back to the manufacturer! In 1969 JCII was re-named Japan Camera Industry Institute and started to preserve 'Historical Japanese Cameras'. A very interesting collection of these historic cameras and many proto-types are shown in the JCII museum in downtown Tokyo, open to the public since 1989. The museum has also a 'Photo Salon' and a large library.
Many books have been written on Nikon Corporation and its products. An interesting list of books and publications can be found on the web site of the Dutch Nikon publicist Hans Braakhuis).