Our Japanese Manufacturer
Our Manufacturer in Japan is Matsuba Optical Company located in Sabae City in Fukui.
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The eyewear industry of Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture—including frame manufacturing industry—has a history reaching back over 100 years
Eyewear manufacturing spread widely in Sabae beginning in 1905. After World War 2, the rapidly expanding economy brought with it increasing demand for eyeglasses, allowing Sabae to grow into a leading eyewear production centre.
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Production efficiency was improved by automatizing parts of the manufacturing process, and both quality improvement and product variety developed as the city began manufacturing celluloid frames and sunglasses as well. In 1981, Sabae succeeded in developing and producing the world’s first durable yet lightweight titanium eyewear, establishing itself as a world-renowned centre for eyewear production.
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Glasses produced in Fukui in general, and Sabae in particular, have been acknowledged not only for their innovation, but also for their high quality, and have strongly supported the Made in Japan brand. Today, Fukui Prefecture accounts for over 90 percent of national eyewear production, and continues to vigorously advance new innovations as it drives product quality.
Matsuba Optical Company
Matsuba is a third generation manufacturer of ophthalmic goods and was established in 1963.
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Reading glasses are regarded as a medical device product in Japan. Consequently there are laws and regulations based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Laws that require stringent quality assurance and safety management systems around the manufacturing process. It is a requirement to hold a licence for medical equipment manufacturing and sales. Matsuba has this licence and is compliant with all necessary regulations.
Since the lens is the most important part, Matsuba striclty inspects presbyopia levels and pupil distance for all its products, based on the required standard. In addition, lenses and frames are regularly inspected at JSOI ( Japan Spectacles Popular Optics Inspection Institute).
The materials used for making glasses vary depending on the particular design, however, there are between 200 and 300 individual processes involved in the manufacture, and most of these are done by hand.
Inspection is done for each and every process and finally checked by an expert craftsman to ensure there is no scratch or fault.
