Masunaga

Masunaga: eyewear made in Fukui, the beating heart of Japanese the eyewear craft.

Fukui, a city in Japan, ranks among the world’s three largest production hubs for optical frames, alongside China and Italy. In fact, 97% of all eyeglasses manufactured in Japan originate from Fukui. This rich tradition began in 1905, when Gozaemon Masunaga founded the company Masunaga Optical. He held a clear vision: to establish a thriving optical industry in Fukui. To achieve this, he brought skilled craftspeople from Osaka and Tokyo to the region, laying a solid foundation.
The beginnings, however, were difficult. In those early years, eyewear from Fukui had an international reputation for being of inferior quality. Masunaga changed this by implementing a guild-like system. Master craftspeople were given the opportunity to start their own businesses, which led to a steady improvement in the quality of the eyewear and allowed the craft to spread throughout the entire region.

What makes Masunaga Optical unique today is its fully integrated production process—a rarity in the eyewear industry. While many manufacturers work with external suppliers, Masunaga carries out all 200-plus manual production steps in-house, from raw materials to the final finish. This not only ensures exceptional quality control but also allows for immediate adjustments; for instance, if a frame presents comfort issues, the design of the mold can be modified right away.

At the heart of Masunaga’s legacy lies an unwavering commitment to quality. Their original mission statement, which has remained unchanged for over a century, reads:
“We strive to create the best possible eyewear. While we certainly welcome a profit, we are not afraid to incur a loss if necessary. Our guiding principle has always been: we craft exceptional eyewear and will never compromise on quality!”
This philosophy lives on in every frame Masunaga produces—shaped by passion, precision, and a deep respect for craftsmanship.