Yoshihisa Maitani

Yoshihisa Maitani (Japanese米 谷 美 久, Yoshihisa Maitani, born January 8, 1933, Kagawa Prefecture, † July 30, 2009 in Hachioji ) was a Japanese camera designer.

He worked primarily for the camera manufacturer Olympus. His developments included the PEN series of the company. Already with 10 years he built his first camera. At age 16, he already had four patents. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined the Department of Olympus camera development. Almost three years later, the PEN camera came on the market, which has sold a total of over 17 million copies. In 1972 he created the Olympus OM SLR system (O = Olympus, M = Maitani ). The following Olympus XA 1979 was the first camera that has been awarded the highest Japanese award for industrial design. The career of Maitani ran from the camera developers to managing director of Olympus. In 1996 he retired, but was still the company continues as a consultant.

In 1980 he was awarded the Nihon Shashin Kyōkai (日本 写真 协会, engl. The Photographic Society of Japan). The PMA took him in 1994 to the Hall of Fame.

He was married to Keiko Maitani (黙 祷 敬 子). On 30 July 2009 he died in a hospital in Hachioji from respiratory insufficiency.