PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an optical connector which has an improved characteristic of being stored in a cabinet or the like with reduced sizes, and furthermore, eliminates problems of bending loss increases, breakage and the like of optical fiber. SOLUTION: An optical connector 1 stores and holds a fusion-spliced connecting section 13 where a short optical fiber 5 preattached to an optical connector ferrule 85 and an optical fiber core wire 3 are fusion-spliced. In the optical connector, one end of a protection sleeve 87 housing the fusion-spliced connecting section 13 and composed of a heat shrinkable material is coupled to the optical connector ferrule 85. In the optical connector ferrule 85, there is formed an air relief hole 7f that releases outside the air enclosed in the protection sleeve 87 when the sleeve 87 is heat-shrunk and adhered closely onto the optical connector ferrule 85. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT