June 4, 2024

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands In 2024: TOP Japan Eyewear

Minute Read

Have you ever thought about what sets Japanese Sunglasses Brands apart from other sunglasses and why you might prefer them for a great look?

Japanese eyewear production manufacturers, showcase the most modern technology designs.

Brands such as Jacques Marie MageKaneko Optical, and Kenzo Takada (Sun of Japan), have honed their production processes and latest equipment to make eyeglasses that are not only stylish and sophisticated but also exceptionally well made. 

The combination of traditional skills and the latest technology, from meticulous craftsmanship to innovative design, results in eyewear differs considerably from foreign manufacturers in terms of durability, uniqueness, and artistic design. 

One famous example of this are Japanese acetate sunglasses frames. 

We will explore the world of Japanese designer sunglasses, in particular the Japanese brand name Mitsuhiro Matsuda from the Fukui prefecture city of Sabae (ふくいけん さばえし).

The brand is focused on creating luxurious different shapes eyewear that surpasses common material quality. 

These sunglasses are made using methods passed down through generations and pay great attention to detail. 

The shapes of the frames embody innovation and Japanese culture, and they are made using modern technologies and stainless steel to produce cat eye sunglasses , aviator  sunglasses, gothic architecture inspired glasses and round  sunglasses styles. 

Come with us as we delve into the deep well of history that fills Sabae city, the epicenter of Japanese sunglasses craftsmanship and technological innovation. 

Let's take a tour of the Japanese eyewear manufacturers' production process.

(If you love Japanese design and quality, also check out Japanese knives, the Samurai swords of modern kitchens! If you love Japanese fashion, make sure to check out Japan Fashion Summer: 17 Best Outfit Style Trends and 1970s Japanese Fashion Culture: Street & Designers.)

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands In 2024

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands In 2024

Introduction to Japanese Sunglasses Brands

When it comes to finding a luxury eyewear brand that is not just average, the top of your list should be Japanese brands.

Why you ask? 

Let me tell you. 🙂

When you think of eyewear from Japan, you think of advanced technology applied to finest materials. 

You think of quality that surpasses any other. 

You think of frames that fit you perfectly.

A whole range of high-quality eyewear designed with a perfect fit in varying styles: from browline sunglasses to square sunglasses to retro sunglasses, Japanese designer wear is the best place to find a unique and stylish pair of sunglasses.

Each set of glasses is designed with a profound admiration for tradition and an unyielding devotion to accuracy.

Moreover, when you opt for Japanese eyewear, you aren't simply making a purchase; rather, you're making an investment in artwork.

People across the globe recognize Japanese designers for their ability to meld traditional looks with contemporary ones, producing eyewear that is both classic and at the forefront of style made with the world-famous Japanese craftsmanship.

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: from cool designs...

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: from cool designs...

The Art of Japanese Sunglasses Crafting

The Process: From Concept to Finished Product

The devotion of the artisans who make Japanese eyewear is a thing of legend—or it should be. It’s one of those stories you want to tell for no other reason than to say that it exists at all.

Eyewear isn't new to Japan, of course. 

The second half of the 18th century saw the development of a style known as "peritas." before then, "nanshiki," (the equivalent to today's contact lenses) and astringent eyewash, were the solution to vision problems.

 These all may have been ways of dealing with something they just didn't understand.

The Materials: A Blend of Innovation and Tradition

In the Japanese eyewear tradition, artisans have always used types of materials that have faithfully served the spectacles that they made before, particularly for deco-style and thin-rimmed varieties.

 Over the last three to four decades, acetate has completely dominated the Japan sunglasses frame market, hardly surprising, since it allows for the use of an amazing number of color and pattern combinations and offers a kind of chromatic lusciousness few eyewear materials can match. 

But titanium—first commercially produced on a large scale in Japan in the 1980s, thanks to another materials science revolution here— has also become a medium in which Japanese frame makers, especially those who are part of the Kanda School of frame production just outside Tokyo, work alchemical magic.

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: ... to fun fashion

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: ... to fun fashion

Spotlight on Noteworthy Japanese Sunglasses Brands

Matsuda: The undisputed #1

Matsuda frames are world famous. Matsuda is a luxury brand that distinctly combines old-world artisanship with the sensibilities and design aesthetics of today. 

Every pair they create is an artwork in and of itself, conceived with the utmost intricacy and regard for human artistry and traditional techniques. 

For Matsuda, part of artisanship is what you see when you are really up close. 

Trained eyes will pick out the slivers of detailed work on seemingly plain or polished metal surfaces; they're really not as plain or polished as they appear. 

The razor's edge on the finely honed temples of Matsuda eyewear wasn't there in pre-industrial times when humans and not machines were mostly responsible for finished products that bore their name. 

Artistry was real; it was achieved in real-time. 

And, Matsuda values this still today and expresses its wide variety of frames - and of course its famous customer service.

DITA: Crafting Excellence, One Frame at a Time

DITA represents what exacting attention to detail and profound love for perfection can bring about. 

Its luxury eyewear frames are created using a process that can stretch for months, from the first flash of inspiration to the finalizing touches of a skilled workman's hand. 

In a world where mass production has become the anthem for 20-something locals in a backroom, DITA stands out for the number of sets of hands it takes to make a frame worthy of actually being worn. 

DITA is about as far from a knockoff as you can get in the eyewear world.

Oh My Glasses TOKYO: A Glimpse into Tokyo's Eyewear Fashion

Oh My Glasses TOKYO is exceptional in more ways than one. The brand is not only renowned and admired for its up-to-the-minute designs but is also planted firmly in the Aoyama district of Tokyo. Indeed, the phrase "found on the streets of Aoyama" stands as a guarantee of fashionable taste throughout that part of the city. Innovation and forward-thinking are Tōkyō-kō spiritual tenants, ones they share with Oh My Glasses.

Azabu Optical: Tradition Meets Contemporary in Kyoto

In the center of old Kyoto, you will find Azabu Optical—an establishment that finds common ground between classic Japanese eyewear and modern design. Using old and new elements, this company makes eyewear built for comfort, style, and a long life. They must be doing something right, since they've been around since 1972. The shop's founder, Mr. Hiroshi Jo, started his career when eyewear was still a relatively new thing in Japan, so he's seen the industry grow and change over the years. His establishment participates in this very change as they look to maintain Japan's historical reputation as a place of superlative craftsmanship in the world of eyewear.

EYEVAN: Crafting Luxury in Tokyo's Roppongi

EYEVAN has established itself as a luxury icon in the Tokyo eyewear scene. Set in the stylish Roppongi neighborhood, the brand's designs are said to be a few steps ahead of those of its most formidable competitors. EYEVAN's clientele is discerning—it seeks a certain kind of high-class eyewear that isn’t just right for their faces, but also their personalities and, of course, for the price tag.

ayame: Contemporary Chic at Continuer

Continuer's eyewear brand, Ayame, emphasizes cutting-edge style in Japanese glasses. Ayame is known to make frames with designs that are both modern and innovative, in colors and shapes that push the creative envelope. Ayame eyewear is a fabulous choice for anyone who loves powerful chic and enigmatic allure. With such a wide range of "serious fun" frames, those who set their hearts on Ayame end up with lots of Ayame eyewear in their collections.

fournines(999.9): Precision Eyewear in Ginza

Situated in the deluxe Ginza neighborhood, fournines is the very definition of first-class eyewear. this elite eyewear brand is noted for its engineer-level quality, where each frame is a work of art embodying comfort and style. if you are a persnickety eyeglass shopper, then you will truly appreciate the finesse that goes into every pair of glasses from the house of fournines.

Kaneko Optical: Elegant Eyewear in Aoyama

Kaneko Optical is a desirable eyewear brand, and many people go to its shop, located in Aoyama, to get their hands or rather, eyes, on a pair of its glasses. The brand is beloved for its minimal and delicate designs, and the brand’s emphasis on the elegant shouldn’t be mistaken for producing eyewear that isn’t very functional. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the brand has won the Good Design Award in the past for some of its eyewear designs.

MASUNAGA: Century-Old Craftsmanship in Gifu

MASUNAGA has been around for nearly 120 years now. That's a long time in any business, but especially eyewear. This is a great story to tell your customers. In your shop, you probably know how to make customers feel comfortable. They may seem a little too comfortable with handling a delicate object (eyewear). They might even be too comfortable with the price tags. You've probably watched as customers waver over their choice. Maybe you've even compromised your bottom line by ordering in a pair of frames you didn't really want just to make a customer happy. When you do, you're giving away the powerful story that is MASUNAGA.

Hakusan: Vintage Appeal in Ueno

Located in Ueno, Tokyo, Hakusan is famous for its designs that are influenced by vintage styles. The eyewear made by this brand certainly has a "today" feel and is by no means a direct replica of something from the past. Yet, classic frames that have retained a modern feel are what this brand is good at. If you appreciate "geek chic," a style that pairs thick, nerdy eyeglasses with a look that calls to the 1960s, then this might be the brand for you.

BJ Classic: Bold Statements in OBJ EAST

Known for their bold eyewear design, BJ Classic comes strong for those of their clientele who want to make a loud and playful statement. With an array of innovative and audacious frames that defy the norms, the brand is making a case for next-level eyewear that is utilitarian without sacrificing style.

BostonClub: Sophisticated Styles in Ginza

Ginza's BostonClub provides eyewear that captures dignity and style. Employing mostly "Made in Japan" techniques and employing classic style, BostonClub caters to folks who desire glasses that are both practical and snazzy.

Yellows Plus: Trendsetting Designs in Daikanyama

Located in Daikanyama, Yellows Plus is leading the way in Japanese eyewear style. The company is all about vibrant, contemporary frames that look and feel both luxurious and right for the times. On the face of it, the glasses from the Tokyo-based label are becoming the new normal for fashion-conscious people in Japan and elsewhere.

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: designs for men

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: designs for men

The Rise of Japanese Eyewear in Pop Culture

Japanese Eyewear in Movies: A Symbol of Style

The silver screen has become a platform for Japanese eyewear, propelling it into the limelight. 

Whether it's on the set of a film or in a movie theater, the glasses worn by characters in contemporary Japanese cinema have become as significant as the characters themselves, amping up the "Cool Japan" factor that has come to define an entire generation of Japanese artists, from manga to films, from fashion to, indeed, eyewear.

The sleek, matte black frames of Matsuda are associated with sophistication and quality.

In the film world, a character that wears these frames immediately reaches the same level—effortlessly sleek and sophisticated, with an eye for quality. 

The design of the frames has become so iconic that their appearance in a film can be used to tell part of the story. 

And in some cases, the frames are as memorable as the narrative, true film shorthand for both character and story.

The approval of the film medium itself has launched Japanese eyewear brands into global recognition. 

They are now coveted by not only lovers of the cinema but by those wanting to infuse their own personal style with some of the glimmer and glamour of moviemaking. 

Celebrities Embracing Japanese Eyewear

The Japanese eyewear brand's commitment has an impressive impact globally. 

It is not merely the movies that they have influenced. 

Somehow, the Japanese aesthetic has permeated the world of style.

Coolness is one of the qualities that sets the Japanese apart when it comes to setting a style, and we are not far from crossing the line into the realm of the cheesy. 

The non-excessive, sleek look is one of the hallmarks of Japanese style and assuredly with their appearance, always seemingly in the forefront of your face, yet, never so overt as to be gauche.

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: designs for women

Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands: designs for women

Shopping Guide for Japanese Eyewear in 2024

What to Look for When Buying Japanese Sunglasses 

When it comes to purchasing Japanese eyewear, the foremost criteria you should look out for is the craftsmanship itself. 

What other things to pay attention to? 

There is no one right answer, but it can be boiled down to the following three things: 

  1. the hinges
  2. the textural and visual finish of the materials
  3. and the overall feeling of a properly engineered pair of stems and a bridge—an artful integration of the two—that will hold up with daily wear and still look good. 

When it comes to eyewear, the "look good" part is decidedly important. 

But keep in mind, the quality is most important. Japanese eyewear and sunglasses combine the two.

Where to Buy the Best Japanese Sunglasses Brands

It may seem difficult to find the best Japanese Sunglasses Brands, but you do have a few good choices. 

Start with specialty eyewear retailers in your area. 

These stores frequently carry international brands, and many of them have an especially good selection of Japanese frames. 

The staff at these stores usually knows a lot about the frame lines that they carry, so the shopping experience can be more guided and informed.

If going to the physical shops isn't something that you find very convenient, you can turn to online retailers that carry Japanese eyewear and that also give pretty detailed size information, which is very helpful when it comes to making a choice. 

And certainly, if you're in Japan, there are loads of eyewear retailers to choose from.

Into sunglasses but not yet found the right Japanese pair?

Here are some international brands and designs that Japanese people love:

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/08/2024 06:58 am GMT
Ray-Ban Rb8225 Aviator Titanium Sunglasses
$252.02

MADE IN JAPAN: With patience and pursuit of perfection being deeply rooted in Japanese culture, "Made in Japan" stands for the highest attention to details.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/08/2024 06:59 am GMT
Gucci GG 0563SKN Navigator Shape Sunglasses + Bundle with eSHADES Luxury Eyewear Kit
$348.00

 Made in Japan.

Gucci GG 0563SKN Navigator Shape Sunglasses.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/08/2024 07:06 am GMT
Ray-Ban Rb8258 Frank Ii Titanium Aviator Sunglasses
$242.01

MADE IN JAPAN: With patience and pursuit of perfection being deeply rooted in Japanese culture, "Made in Japan" stands for the highest attention to details.


We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/08/2024 06:39 am GMT
Saint Laurent SL M104/F - 002 Monogram Palette Sunglasses + Bundle with eSHADES Luxury Eyewear Kit

Made in Japan.

Saint Laurent SL M104/F - 002 Monogram Palette Sunglasses.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Happy shopping!

じゃあね、Yama

P.S.:
If you want to bring some Japanese design ideas into your home, this is the place I recommend to all my friends:


This is an affiliate link to a shop I love. If you choose to buy there, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This supports me to keep my blog running. 

If you enjoyed and got value from this blog post, you might also enjoy reading about 

Japanese design: 

  1. learn why Japanese design is special
  2. incorporate the best Japanese home decor elements easily in your home 
  3. achieve a Japandi-Modern Japanese style
  4. explore WOW-worthy Japanese Home Decor ideas.

Japanese beauty:

  1. follow the beauty-footsteps of the Geishas
  2. discover the best Japanese beauty products 
  3. find out which Japanese beauty products you should buy while on your Japan holidays
  4. explore why Japanese beauty products are world-famous  

Japanese fashion:

  1. find exciting inspiration about Japanese fashion here.
  2. explore clothing and rituals of Japanese wedding traditions gifts

Japanese technology:

  1. make sure to check out why everyone loves Japan technology gadgets.
  2. discover best Japanese knives - a century old Japanese technology 

Japanese ikigai

  1. learn about the best Japanese spring cleaning ideas
  2. discover the great tips for cleaning and organizing
  3. read about very efficient cleaning habits from Japan
  4. understand Japanese problem solving
  5. train to make better decisions

Related posts

Stay up-to-date for free

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates

Read more about Yama

Originally from Tokyo, I am a world-traveling Japanese adventurer who loves connecting with people.

Editorial Process

Our reviews are made by a team of experts before being written and come from real-world experience. Read our editorial process here.

Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to us at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. These are products we’ve personally used and stand behind. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This site is not intended to provide financial advice. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

Image Credits

Never miss something new (or old) from Japan

 Subscribe to our newsletter

>