The 18th Industry Award of The Laser Society of Japan for fiscal year 2026
The 18th Laser Society of Japan Industry Award for 2025 has been decided.
Overview of The Laser Society of Japan Industry Award
The Laser Society of Japan awards The Industry Award to the supporting members of the Society for their excellent achievements in contributing to the development of the domestic laser-related industry in the practical application and the dissemination of laser-related products and technologies.
“Laser Industry Award for Excellent Product” will be given to the technology and market performance of laser-related industrial technology. “Laser Industry Encouragement Award” will be given to the market development and future potential, and “Laser Industry Contribution Award” will be given to the excellent basic technology or long-term cumulative contribution. In addition, “Laser Industry Selection Committee Special Award” will be given to the case the committee expects notably high contributions to the laser industry.
This time, we received high-quality applications overall, and after careful deliberation, we have finally selected 7 entries.
I．Laser Industry Award for Excellent Product
“External-cavity wavelength-tunable laser (TSL series)”
Santec LIS Corporation
This application pertains to the field of equipment and systems. The external-cavity wavelength-tunable laser (TSL series) developed by Santec LIS Corporation was first commercialized in 1988 as the world’s first external-cavity wavelength-tunable laser based on a semiconductor laser. Since then, continuous improvements have resulted in significant advancements in both performance and reliability. Through long-term commercialization and widespread adoption, this technology has made a substantial contribution to the development of laser-related industries in Japan and worldwide. The TSL series achieves an outstanding combination of a wide tuning range with mode-hop-free operation, high-speed wavelength sweeping, high output power, narrow linewidth, and excellent stability. As a result, it has attained a world-leading market share and an exceptional sales record, particularly in the field of optical communications. In recognition of its high level of technical maturity and its outstanding contribution to industry, this product is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Award for Excellent Product.
“Super hard coat utilizing photo modification technology“
RENIAS Co., Ltd.
This application pertains to the field of applied technologies. The super hard coat developed by RENIAS Co., Ltd., which applies proprietary optical modification technology, demonstrates a high degree of originality and effectiveness as a laser-based industrial application. Through successful commercialization and widespread adoption, it has made a significant contribution to the advancement of related industries. This technology employs a unique process that modifies the surface of a silicone-based hard coating into a silica-glass-like composition under atmospheric pressure, thereby achieving both high wear resistance and strong adhesion—properties that were difficult to realize simultaneously using conventional technologies. Furthermore, it enables compliance with stringent abrasion-resistance requirements for polycarbonate resin windows, greatly contributing to expanded adoption in the construction and forestry machinery industries, as well as to the extended service life of products. In addition, the successful translation of fundamental academic research into industrial technology is highly commendable. In recognition of its technical excellence and outstanding industrial impact, this product is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Award for Excellent Product.
II．Laser Industry Encouragement Award
“High Power Fiber Laser Oscillator ”ENSIS-26000”“
AMADA CO., LTD.
This application pertains to the field of equipment and systems. The high-power fiber laser oscillator “ENSIS-26000” developed by AMADA CO., LTD. incorporates proprietary technologies that enable high-output operation while maintaining excellent beam quality, thereby opening new possibilities for improving productivity and processing quality in sheet metal fabrication. By integrating single-module high-power operation, beam-combining technology that preserves high brightness, and advanced beam control techniques, this system successfully overcomes the conventional trade-off between increased output power and degradation of beam quality. As a result, it achieves both higher processing speed and superior quality in medium- to thick-plate machining. This technology represents a forward-looking innovation well aligned with market needs. In recognition of its strong potential for widespread adoption and future development, this product is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Encouragement Award.
“OneShotBRDF Optical Inspection Technology“
TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Toshiba Information Systems (Japan) Corporation, Toshiba, Teli Corporation
This application pertains to the fields of equipment and systems as well as applied technologies. The OneShotBRDF optical inspection technology developed by TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Toshiba Information Systems (Japan) Corporation and Toshiba Teli Corporation establishes a unique principle that encodes and visualizes the directional distribution of reflected light (BRDF) as color information through single-shot imaging. This approach enables high-speed, non-contact, and quantitative evaluation of sub-micrometer-scale defects and nanoscale surface features that were difficult to assess using conventional methods. Furthermore, by integrating dynamic filter control technology based on a digital micromirror device (DMD), this system enables flexible optical inspection and measurement tailored to a wide range of inspection targets. This technology introduces a new framework for visual inspection, automated inspection, and three-dimensional metrology, and its strong future potential as an industrial application grounded in academic research is highly regarded. In recognition of these achievements, this product is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Encouragement Award.
Ⅲ．Laser Industry Contribution Award
“ Development of Terahertz Wave Technologies and Their Industrial Applications“
HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
This application pertains to contributions to optical science and technology as well as to industrial fields. HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K. has systematically developed and commercialized key component technologies—including terahertz detectors, terahertz spectroscopic analysis systems, and terahertz wave plates—thereby establishing a practical foundation for applications in the terahertz frequency region, which had previously been difficult to industrialize. High-sensitivity detection technologies based on field emission, spectroscopic techniques that enable stable measurements under ambient conditions, and wave plate technologies that achieve broadband polarization control have been widely utilized from academic research to industrial applications. These developments have made a significant contribution to strengthening the technological foundation of Japan’s photonics industry. These achievements have also received high international recognition, and their role in enhancing Japan’s global competitiveness in the field of terahertz applications is highly valued. In recognition of these outstanding contributions, this work is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Contribution Award.
“Industrial Contribution through the Dissemination of Laser-Centric Metal Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Total Solutions“
Aichi Sangyo Co., Ltd.
This application pertains to contributions to optical science and technology as well as to industrial fields. Aichi Sangyo Co., Ltd. has continuously supported the practical implementation and widespread adoption of metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies in Japan by positioning lasers as a core technology and systematically introducing and utilizing multiple heat-source approaches and fabrication processes, including laser, electron beam, and arc-based methods. Through comprehensive total solutions including system installation, process parameter optimization, material selection, and quality evaluation, the company has played a key role in advancing the industrial use of AM technologies. These efforts have promoted applications across a wide range of industries, including the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors, thereby making a significant contribution to strengthening the technological foundation of Japan’s manufacturing and laser industries. Furthermore, through long-term dissemination activities that include the introduction and domestic deployment of advanced overseas technologies as well as human resource development, the company has contributed to enhancing Japan’s international competitiveness in the field of additive manufacturing. In recognition of these outstanding contributions, this work is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Contribution Award.
“Acceleration of academic research and industrial contributions through femtosecond laser source kits“
Kokyo, Inc.
This application pertains to contributions to optical science and technology as well as to industrial fields. Kokyo, Inc. provides femtosecond laser source kits that enable researchers to easily introduce and utilize ultrafast laser systems. Through their widespread dissemination, the company has significantly broadened the base of advanced optical science research and supported the generation of a large number of research outcomes. Furthermore, building on the technological foundation established through the development of these laser source kits, the company has promoted the practical implementation of micro-scale laser processing systems for next-generation semiconductor materials and energy-related fields, steadily advancing their adoption in industrial applications. These continuous efforts, which successfully bridge the acceleration of academic research and the translation of research outcomes into industrial technologies, have made a significant contribution to strengthening the technological foundation and enhancing the international competitiveness of Japan’s laser industry. In recognition of these outstanding contributions, this work is considered highly deserving of the Laser Industry Contribution Award.
