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Blog - Masunaga

Masunaga Japanese Handcrafted Eyewear & Sunglasses

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Masunaga mission statement

“We manufacture excellent eyeglasses. We want to make a profit if we can, but we don’t hesitate to take a loss. It is always in our thoughts to manufacture excellent eyeglasses” 

At eyeclarity, giving our customers the very best product and service is always our top priority and a company that we share this idea with is Japanese eyewear brand, Masunaga.

Founded in 1905 by Gozaemon Masunaga, the brand was the first eyewear manufacturer in Japan to settle productions in the Fukui region, which is now responsible for 97% of the production of Japanese-made frames. From humble beginnings, Gozaemon Masunaga employed specialists from Tokyo and Osaka to help build the brand into the award winning business it is today. 

The Masunaga factory is one of the few eyewear brands in the world to design and manufacture their entire product in one factory. This means that they are able to continually adjust parts of each design in-house until they get the design and fit that they desire. The process allows for greater attention to detail and ensures that every piece of a frame, from the acetate to the screws, are manufactured specifically to fit perfectly with the other parts of the product and this process is completely unique to Masunaga in the Japanese market.

With such a large international community shopping at eyeclarity Emporium, I love being able to give our customers a range of frames that truly embodies the bold style and exceptional quality that has become synonymous with Japanese manufacturing. The range of Masunaga frames available in-store have been hand-selected to showcase the most individual and eye-catching designs that the brand has to offer. We love for our customers to stand out and Masunaga is a perfect brand to do just that.

The frames, each made with a titanium core to ensure strength and lightness, feature a mix of metal and layered acetate, combining to create distinctive colour patterns and designs that, although are minimally branded, are instantly recognisable as Masunaga frames. The inside of all of the frames bears the Japanese symbol for ‘guang hui’ which translates to ‘radiance/brilliant/magnificent/glory’, concepts that definitely radiate through the spirit of each design. With their twice-polished handmade acetates, seven-barrel hinges and intricate metalwork, the Masunaga frames are the perfect timeless accessory to any style.

And I’m not the only one that thinks so. Masunaga is also the four-time winner of the prestigious Silmo Award.

  • 2000 – Winner in the Best Sunglass category. Masunaga was the first Japanese brand to enter into the Silmo Awards.
  • 2013 – Masunaga returned to win the ‘Best of the Best’ award for a solid gold, titanium and bamboo frame that was originally designed for the Emperor of Japan. Eyeclarity Emporium is stocking a mainline version of this frame (GMS-008) for anyone who is looking to grab a bit of the Emperor’s style.
  • 2014 - Masunaga took out the Best Sunglass category for the second time with their collaboration piece with Japanese designer Kenzo Takada. This frame is still in production but you can check it out on the Masunaga website!
  • 2015 - Most recently winning the Best Eyewear award for the frame GMS-106 which we have available in store at eyeclarity Emporium.
  • I recommend Masunaga frames for you if you :
  • Love meticulous attention to detailing and understated statement frames
  • Want to try out this season’s hottest trends;  
    Masunaga has an excellent range of the latest trending frames in both acetates and metals to suit anyone looking for try out a new shape.
  • Hate metal nose pieces (I know there’s a lot of you out there) but can’t find an acetate frame to fit their noses! The Emporium store has a great range of alternative fit Masunaga frames in a range of acetate designs to give you the perfect fit.
  • Want sophisticated Japanese design and craftsmanship.
  • There is certainly a lot to love when it comes to Masunaga and the frames really do speak for themselves.

    Comfortable, stylish and unique; this brand has something for every face shape. I would say the beauty of this brand has to be seen to be believed so come in and see one of our expert eye stylists at eyeclarity Emporium to help you find your perfect pair today! 

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