Optical connector and method of manufacturing optical connector

An optical connector comprising:

• a ferrule that holds an end part of a fiber;
• a holding member including:
• a holding part that slidably holds the ferrule;
• a fixing part through which the fiber extending from the ferrule is inserted and to which a sleeve for protecting a fusion splice point between the fiber and an optical fiber is fixed;
• and
• a housing part that houses the fiber in a bent state between the holding part and the fixing part;
• and
• a housing, including a front housing and a rear housing, that houses the ferrule and the holding member, wherein
• the ferrule has a ferrule contact part that contacts the front housing,
• the holding member has a holding contact part that contacts the rear housing, and
• a dimension between the ferrule contact part and the holding contact part in an engagement state of the housing is shorter than a dimension between the ferrule contact part and the holding contact part in a disengagement state of the housing, wherein
• in the engagement state, the ferrule contacts the front housing, the holding member contacts the rear housing, and the fiber is bent, within the housing part, between the end part held by the ferrule and a part inserted in the fixing part of the holding member, and
• in the disengagement state, the ferrule does not contact the front housing, the holding member does not contact the rear housing, and the fiber is not bent.