Sabae Eyewear refers to eyeglass frames made mainly in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture. It is not a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry but a local industry that began in the Meiji era, and through the skills of its artisans and a system of divided labor, it has built a production area known around the world. It began in 1905 (Meiji 38), when Masunaga Gozaemon of Shono, Asozu Village, Asuwa District (present-day Shono-cho, Fukui City) invited eyeglass craftsmen from Osaka and spread eyeglass making as a side business for farming households during the snowy winters. The techniques eventually spread to Sabae, and the city came to promote itself as 'Megane no Machi Sabae' (Sabae, the eyeglass town). In 1983, the world's first titanium eyeglass frames were successfully developed and produced here. Today, about 95% of Japanese-made eyeglass frames are made in Fukui Prefecture, with Sabae City at its center. At the Megane Museum in the city, visitors can learn about the history of the production area, try making frames by hand and buy products from manufacturers in the prefecture.
Origin
Eyeglass making in Fukui began in 1905 (Meiji 38). Masunaga Gozaemon, a member of the village assembly of Asozu Village in Asuwa District, was searching for a way to earn income during the winter off-season for farming. He focused on eyeglasses, which required little capital investment and promised growing demand. Together with his younger brother Kohachi, Gozaemon invited eyeglass craftsmen from Osaka and began production in Shono. For this reason, he is also called 'the father of Japanese-made eyeglasses'.
History
Masunaga created production groups called 'choba', each headed by a master who had been trained by the craftsmen. Competition among the choba honed their skills, and in time the work became divided by component, with each group becoming independent. The production area spread to Sabae as well, and a system of divided labor was built in which the whole town functioned like one large factory. In 1983, the world's first titanium eyeglasses were successfully developed and produced, and the area became internationally known as a high-quality production area.
Features
Sabae Eyewear is supported by a system in which specialized manufacturers divide the work by component. With each process handled by specialized artisans and factories, high-quality frames are produced. Processing technology for titanium, which is light and strong, is a particular strength of the production area. This technology is also used in fields beyond eyewear, such as medicine and electronics. Although not a Traditional Craft, it is a local industry that has continued for more than 120 years, passing down its skills and pride.
Techniques
Titanium processing
Titanium is light and strong, but difficult to process. In 1983, the Fukui production area became the first in the world to successfully develop and produce titanium eyeglasses. The processing technology it has cultivated is also applied in other fields, such as medical devices.
The choba system and division of labor
Production groups called 'choba', which emerged in the early days, competed with one another and improved their skills. In time, the work became divided by component, and a system has been built in which many specialized businesses work together to make a single frame.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
増永眼鏡
A frame manufacturer founded in 1905 (Meiji 38) by Masunaga Gozaemon, marking the starting point of eyeglass making in Fukui. Today it is headquartered in Imaichi-cho, Fukui City, and continues to manufacture frames.
シャルマン
A frame manufacturer that began producing eyeglass parts in Sabae City in 1956. With its head office and factory in Kawasari-cho, Sabae City, it supplies high-value-added frames made with its own titanium alloy and processing technology to about 100 countries worldwide.
How to Buy
- Megane Museum Megane Shop
- A shop inside the Megane Kaikan in Shin-Yokoe, Sabae City. It displays and sells more than 3,000 frames made by about 50 companies in Fukui Prefecture, so you can compare and choose eyewear from the production area. Open 10:00-19:00; closed on Wednesdays and during the year-end and New Year holidays.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
めがねミュージアム 体験工房
福井県鯖江市新横江2-3-4 めがね会館
The 'Handmade Eyeglasses Class', in which you make a plastic frame from choosing the material to cutting it out and finishing it, costs from around 28,000 yen (5 to 7 hours, reservation only). 'Megane de Collage', in which you make a key chain from acetate, costs around 2,000 yen and takes about an hour.
View details →FAQ
Q. Is Sabae Eyewear a Traditional Craft?
A. It has not been designated a national Traditional Craft. It is a local industry that began in the Meiji era and developed through a system of divided labor and technological innovation. Its long history and the skills of its artisans underpin trust in the production area.
Q. Why did eyeglass making flourish in Fukui and Sabae?
A. It began as a side business for farming households to earn income during the snowy winters. Competition among the choba and the division of labor raised the level of skill, and the area developed into a production center where the whole town works like a single factory.
Q. How much of Japan's eyeglass frame production comes from Fukui?
A. About 95% of Japanese-made eyeglass frames are said to be produced in Fukui Prefecture, with Sabae City at its center. At the Megane Museum, you can pick up and compare frames from about 50 companies in the prefecture.