The Birthplace of Japanese Optical Craftsmanship
When Gozaemon Masunaga established Masunaga Optical in Fukui, Japan in 1905, he did more than launch an optical brand—he founded the world-renowned Japanese eyewear industry itself. Guided by the founder’s enduring philosophy (“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”), Masunaga represents over a century of uncompromising standard and quiet luxury.
The Rarity of 100% Integrated In-House Production
While most modern eyewear houses outsource components to third parties, Masunaga remains one of the few makers on earth that controls every single phase of production entirely in-house. From the initial hand-sketched blueprints and raw titanium smelting to the cutting of bespoke screws and the final multi-stage hand polish, everything is completed under one roof in Fukui.
Key hallmarks of Masunaga 1905 frames include:
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Pure Japanese Titanium: Renowned for pioneering the use of titanium in eyewear, Masunaga crafts featherlight, corrosion-resistant, and hypoallergenic frames engineered with extreme structural integrity.
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Aged Japanese Acetate: Masunaga cures its high-density Japanese acetates over extended periods to ensure maximum dimensional stability, preventing warping while allowing for a deep, silky luster that only improves with age.
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Imperial Pedigree & Award-Winning Design: Revered for producing custom solid gold frames for the Emperor of Japan in 1933 and earning multiple Silmo d’Or awards in Paris, each frame reflects timeless Japanese aesthetics with subtle filigree engraving.
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Master Shokunin Finishing: Every bevel and curve is polished by hand by multi-generational artisans (shokunin), resulting in a frame that feels extraordinarily balanced on the face.
Finding Your Fit with Our Optical Team
A bold acetate frame requires an expert optometric fitting to ensure optical clarity and balanced weight across the bridge. At East Vision Optometry, we stock an exclusive curation of Masunaga optical frames and sunglasses. Our dispensing opticians align every frame to your facial anatomy, pairing these statement pieces with custom biometric intelligent prescription lenses.
Explore the collection in-store. Visit East Vision Optometry in Brisbane to experience Masunaga in person.
