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Author photo 2I joined Olympus Tokyo working in the research and development (R&D) of microscopes in 1964. After 4 years working on microscope design, I was transferred to New York to the gastrocamera business as a technical liaison. This photo was taken at R&D Tokyo in 1965.
Author photo 3The company's mission was to promote gastrocameras and fiberoptic gastroscopes in the United States market. This 1968 photo shows gastrocamera model GTF-A, which had a fiberoptic viewing system and a small film camera and lamp built into the distal end.
Author photo 4I met Dr Hiromi Shinya, whose dream was to develop a less-invasive surgical procedure to remove colon polyps. We eventually developed polypectomy technology for the first time for the worldwide endoscopy community. This photo was taken in 1968 (Dr Shinya is on the left).
Author photo 5I took a 2-week course in gastroscopy by Dr John Morrissey at the University of Wisconsin in 1969 and learned U.S. GI practices. I took this photo during gastroscopy using GTF-A performed by Dr Morrissey.
Author photo 6I worked with Olympus Tokyo R&D to introduce numerous new endoscopic products in the United States market, including several colonoscopes, upper-GI endoscopes, and ERCP endoscopes. This photo was taken at an American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) convention exhibit in the early 1970s.
Author photo 7I established a lifelong practice of visiting GI units throughout the country to exchange ideas with leading endoscopists for new products and to identify clinical needs. This photo is of a discussion with Dr Jack Vennes at VA Minneapolis in 1975.
Author photo 8I worked with leading endoscopists and the ASGE to support and advance endoscopy education and the development of new technologies. This 1980 photo was taken at the ERCP seminar in San Diego.
Author photo 9I was assigned to manage manufacturing and repair service plants for 7 years and returned to New York to manage the R&D and marketing group. This 1990 photo was taken at the Albuquerque plant.
In 1968, Olympus transferred him to Olympus America, its newly established subsidiary in New York. Endoscopy was in its infancy. The company's mission was to promote the use of flexible gastrocameras and early fiberoptic endoscopes in the United States market, for which he pioneered many product development initiatives at Olympus America. During these early years, he established his lifelong practice of visiting GI unit after GI unit throughout the country to exchange ideas with leading endoscopists for new products and to identify unmet clinical needs. Mr Ichikawa worked with Olympus Tokyo to introduce numerous new endoscopic products to the market in the United States, including several new colonoscopes, upper-GI endoscopes, and ERCP endoscopes. Many of these products were designed to meet the U.S. market.
One of Mr Ichikawa's major efforts was developing endoscopic polypectomy devices and technology at the request of New York surgeon Dr Hiromi Shinya, whose dream was to develop a less-invasive surgical procedure to remove colon polyps, although many regarded the new endoscopic procedure as very risky at the time. After much testing, in 1970, Dr Shinya and Mr Ichikawa introduced polypectomy technology for the first time to the worldwide endoscopy community. Since then it has become standard endoscopic practice.
In 1985, Mr Ichikawa was selected to head the endoscope division of Olympus America. In 1989, he was assigned to manage Olympus's manufacturing plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and its repair service plant in San Jose, California. In 1996, he returned to New York to manage Olympus’s Marketing and Research and Development groups at their North American corporate headquarters.
He also continued working as a member of the Olympus international team for worldwide endoscopic technical innovation and business. In this work, he reported to Mr Ichizo Kawahara, the well-known head of Olympus Tokyo's Medical Division. When the headquarters of Olympus America relocated from New York to Pennsylvania, Mr Ichikawa continued his work in the Research and Development group and the Marketing group.
Before retiring from his long career at Olympus, he served as Vice President of Customer Relations, working with leading endoscopists in the United States and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to support and advance endoscopy education and the development of new endoscopic technologies. After a 43-year career with Olympus, Mr Ichikawa retired in 2007 and now resides in Long Island, New York, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Disclosure
The author disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this publication.
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