Updated 22 October 2026
Surgical and endoscopy device distributors in Japan: 86 licensed establishments
The Bastion Hale Distributor Index lists 86 establishments in Japan whose registry records include surgery and endoscopy: 1 with a channel role (importer, distributor, wholesaler or authorised representative), 15 registration holders without a channel role, and 70 registered as manufacturer or exporter only, out of 526 medical device establishments in Japan overall. The records come from US FDA (openFDA) and Health Canada, last seen on 22 October 2026.
General and plastic surgery covers instruments, electrosurgery, endoscopes, sutures and staplers. Most registries place surgical instruments in their largest category, so this segment usually has the most establishments and the widest spread of company sizes. Many of them are small instrument makers and importers rather than full-line distributors.
By role
| Role | Establishments | Share | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distributor | 1 | 1% | Holds a distribution licence or is listed as distributor (Health Canada MDEL, SFDA, Oman MOH). |
| Registration holder | 15 | 17% | Holds device licences or registrations in its own name (Health Canada MDALL licence holder). |
| Manufacturer | 80 | 93% | Registered as a manufacturer with an address in this market, including foreign registrations. |
| Exporter | 20 | 23% | Registered with the US FDA as an exporter of devices made for export. |
An establishment can hold several roles, so the shares add to more than 100%.
Who holds the registration in Japan
In Japan the marketing approval or certification is held by a Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) based in Japan, or by a Designated MAH acting for a foreign manufacturer. The foreign manufacturer registers separately with PMDA. An independent D-MAH keeps the approval out of the distributor's hands.
Top 20 surgery and endoscopy establishments by size
Channel roles first, then registration holders, then manufacturers. Size is a 0 to 100 score; Complete is 0 to 5.
| # | Establishment | Roles | Segments | Products | Registrations | Principals | Size | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daiso Industries Co., Ltd. Higashihiroshima | Channel Distributor, Manufacturer, Exporter | Anaesthesia and respiratory, General hospital and consumables, Dental +5 more | 34 | 1 | 0 | 34.8 | 3/5 |
| 2 | OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP. HACHIOJI-SHI Tokyo | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer, Exporter | Anaesthesia and respiratory, Cardiovascular, General hospital and consumables +7 more | 351 | 183 | 0 | 71.2 | 3/5 |
| 3 | CANON INC. Kawasaki Kanagawa | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | Aesthetics, dermatology and lasers, Anaesthesia and respiratory, Cardiovascular +8 more | 673 | 107 | 0 | 70.4 | 3/5 |
| 4 | NAKANISHI INC. Kanuma Tochigi | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | Dental, Ear, nose and throat, Patient monitoring and neurology +2 more | 411 | 70 | 0 | 65.9 | 3/5 |
| 5 | FUJIFILM CORPORATION ASHIGARAKAMI-GUN Kanagawa | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | Cardiovascular, General hospital and consumables, Gastroenterology, urology and OB/GYN +4 more | 163 | 60 | 0 | 60.5 | 3/5 |
| 6 | NIPRO CORPORATION Settsu Osaka | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer, Exporter | Cardiovascular, General hospital and consumables, Dental +4 more | 51 | 29 | 0 | 53.0 | 3/5 |
| 7 | TOPCON CORPORATION TOKYO | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | In-vitro diagnostics, Ophthalmic, Imaging, radiology and radiotherapy +1 more | 45 | 26 | 0 | 50.3 | 3/5 |
| 8 | GE Healthcare Japan Corporation HINO-SHI Tokyo | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | Cardiovascular, Patient monitoring and neurology, Imaging, radiology and radiotherapy +1 more | 122 | 8 | 0 | 50.1 | 3/5 |
| 9 | PENTAX MEDICAL CORPORATION Tokyo | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | Cardiovascular, Ear, nose and throat, Gastroenterology, urology and OB/GYN +2 more | 52 | 37 | 0 | 49.2 | 3/5 |
| 10 | MIZUHO CORPORATION BUNKYO-KU Tokyo | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer, Exporter | General hospital and consumables, Ear, nose and throat, Patient monitoring and neurology +1 more | 29 | 4 | 0 | 41.8 | 3/5 |
| 11 | ARKRAY Factory, Inc. Koka-shi Shiga | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | In-vitro diagnostics, Ophthalmic, Surgery and endoscopy | 21 | 8 | 0 | 41.3 | 3/5 |
| 12 | FEATHER SAFETY RAZOR CO., LTD. OSAKA | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | General hospital and consumables, In-vitro diagnostics, Ophthalmic +1 more | 16 | 10 | 0 | 41.0 | 3/5 |
| 13 | TSK LABORATORY, JAPAN TOCHIGI-SHI | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | General hospital and consumables, Orthopaedics, spine and trauma, Surgery and endoscopy | 10 | 9 | 0 | 38.3 | 3/5 |
| 14 | TOGO MEDIKIT CO., LTD. HYUGA CITY Miyazaki | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer, Exporter | Cardiovascular, General hospital and consumables, Surgery and endoscopy | 9 | 6 | 0 | 37.8 | 3/5 |
| 15 | TAKARA BELMONT CORPORATION OSAKA | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer | Dental, Imaging, radiology and radiotherapy, Surgery and endoscopy | 15 | 4 | 0 | 37.0 | 3/5 |
| 16 | TSK Laboratory International Japan KK Tochigi | Holder Registration holder, Manufacturer, Exporter | General hospital and consumables, Ophthalmic, Surgery and endoscopy | 5 | 3 | 0 | 32.5 | 3/5 |
| 17 | HOYA Corporation PENTAX Lifecare Division KURIHARA-SHI Miyagi | Manufacturer Manufacturer, Exporter | Anaesthesia and respiratory, General hospital and consumables, Ear, nose and throat +3 more | 154 | 2 | 0 | 42.7 | 3/5 |
| 18 | NIDEK CO., LTD. HAMACHO PLANT GAMAGORI, AICHI | Manufacturer Manufacturer, Exporter | In-vitro diagnostics, Ophthalmic, Imaging, radiology and radiotherapy +1 more | 64 | 2 | 0 | 38.3 | 3/5 |
| 19 | Intuitive Surgical G.K. Tokyo | Manufacturer Manufacturer, Exporter | General hospital and consumables, Ear, nose and throat, Gastroenterology, urology and OB/GYN +2 more | 82 | 1 | 0 | 37.6 | 3/5 |
| 20 | AOMORI OLYMPUS CO., LTD. Kuroishi Site KUROISHI-SHI Aomori | Manufacturer Manufacturer | Ear, nose and throat, Gastroenterology, urology and OB/GYN, Imaging, radiology and radiotherapy +1 more | 104 | 1 | 0 | 36.5 | 3/5 |
Questions about surgery and endoscopy distributors in Japan
How many surgery and endoscopy distributors are there in Japan?
The Index counts 86 establishments in Japan with surgery and endoscopy in their registry record, of which 1 hold a channel role as importer, distributor, wholesaler or authorised representative. The number comes from US FDA (openFDA) and Health Canada and was last refreshed on 22 October 2026.
Who can hold a surgery and endoscopy device registration in Japan?
In Japan the marketing approval or certification is held by a Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) based in Japan, or by a Designated MAH acting for a foreign manufacturer. The foreign manufacturer registers separately with PMDA. An independent D-MAH keeps the approval out of the distributor's hands.
How do I find a surgery and endoscopy distributor in Japan?
Open the top establishments on this page and check their roles, principals and registration counts. Then search the Index for your device and Japan to reveal three profiles. For a ranked shortlist for your device, get the Next 10 Markets report.
What does the Distributor Index count as a surgery and endoscopy distributor in Japan?
A company that appears in a public regulatory registry with an address in Japan and whose linked device listings fall in the surgery and endoscopy segment, in any of the roles importer, distributor, wholesaler, authorised representative, registration holder, manufacturer or exporter. Each company is counted once.
Other segments in Japan
Surgery and endoscopy in other Asia Pacific markets
Sources
- US FDA Establishment Registration and Device Listing, openFDA bulk download: 85 establishments, last seen 22 October 2026. US government work, public domain.
- Health Canada MDALL active licence listing and MDEL establishment licence listing: 15 establishments, last seen 22 October 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence, Canada.
Index build 22 October 2026. Each establishment is counted once per country after resolving names across sources. Named individuals are never collected.
Registry data. Bastion Hale does not vouch for any establishment.