The Japanese are known for their many trends that eventually became popular all around the globe. They have a distinct sense of fashion that aims to synthesize styles and designs from all around the world into one look. And if we had to use one word to describe this look, it would definitely be recognizable.
Of course, a look can’t be complete without a nice pair of sunglasses! Although we don’t hear about Japanese sunglasses brands too often, they’re there — we just need to dig a little deeper to find them. And, by ‘deeper,’ we mean doing a simple Google search.
We’ve looked for some of the best Japanese sunglasses companies, and surprisingly (although not really), the Japanese have a variety of brands to choose from! Even though they’re far behind Italy and China, the number isn’t negligible. So, let’s take a look at what the Japanese market has to offer.
1. Eyevan
Eyevan is definitely one of the most popular eyewear brands in Japan. The company has been on the market for nearly five decades now and is a favorite of many Japanese people. According to company representatives, it was the very first eyewear brand established in Japan!
Eyevan finds inspiration in the tranquility of the Japanese culture. When the company came to life, it defined its concept as ‘eyewear for dressing as a fashion accessory.’ So don’t miss out on these impressive shades!
Popular style: Paragon
2. Boston Club
Boston Club designs some of the most flattering sunglasses on the Japanese market. This company strives to redesign popular styles from 1984, but with a modern twist. That’s actually what makes its sunglasses as unique and quirky as they are.
Nurturing tradition but keeping up with the latest trends gives Boston Club a huge advantage. But most importantly — all the products are made in Japan.
We should really try to give this brand more love. Its designs are stunning!
Popular style: Builder
3. David Kind
The team behind David Kind has one mission, and that is to make the best, top-quality sunglasses at an agreeable price. But just because they say the price is agreeable doesn’t mean they cut corners! Quite the contrary — the brand’s craftsmen have an eye for detail like no other.
The founder’s goal is to source premium materials and work alongside the best designers and craftsmen to bring their stunning frames to life. Combining both traditional and modern approaches, this company achieves the best of both worlds.
Popular style: Aberdeen
4. Globe Specs
The Globe Specs team aims to ensure that the quality of their service and technical skills is always top-notch. Let’s praise them for being true to their vision and actually following through on their goals!
Their eyewear is chic, unique, and fun. If you ever buy a pair of sunglasses from this brand, you won’t be disappointed. Although the company values tradition, it doesn’t hesitate to add a sprinkle of contemporary style to its beautifully crafted frames.
Popular style: The Reggie C3
5. Masunaga
Since 1905, Masunaga has been one of the most sought-after eyewear companies on the Japanese market. Additionally, it claims to be the only Japanese eyewear brand that is fully in charge of all processes, meaning that the company doesn’t use cheap labor. And for that reason, it deserves a big applause! Well done, Masunaga.
Needless to say, this company has it all! This is its main mission: “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.”
Popular style: Wright SG
6. Masahiro Maruyama
Masahiro Maruyama craftsmen use a special technique to make their eyewear as unique as possible. What they use for their frames is hand-twisted metal; the craftsmen twist each piece of metal by hand. Imagine twisting every little piece of metal for eight hours a day… These guys have a lot of patience!
This gives all the glasses a twisted look (See what we did there?), and adds a human touch to them. Therefore, don’t hesitate to check this brand out — it has some really cool styles of shades!
Popular style: MM-0027 No.2 Black (Sunglasses: Broken Lens)
7. Nackymade
Nicknamed Nacky, the founder of Nackymade is a Japanese craftsman who has always had the gift to make a spectacle out of everything. His story began when he was eighteen years old and couldn’t find the appropriate glasses for himself. That’s when he decided that enough was enough. Finally, he undertook the necessary education to make his own!
After eight years of hard work, the Nackymade company was born. It has some really funky sunglasses that you need to check out!
Popular style: Taka Tie #2
8. Matsuda
In a world of fast living, fast thinking, and fast working, the team behind Matsuda decided that they didn’t want to be a part of the chaos. Combining handcrafted elements with innovative technologies, they put a lot of thought into each and every step of making the perfect sunglasses.
The Matsuda team believes that every product is a piece of art, and we have to respect them for that! Make sure to check out the ‘masters of metal’ — you won’t regret it.
Popular style: 10601H
9. Dita
Dita is best known for its Kohn sunglasses that have managed to take the world’s breath away — the style really is that fabulous. Yet, the brand has so much more to offer!
It is definitely on the pricier side, but if you want to splurge on a pair of really impressive shades, go for Dita. You can’t go wrong with any of the frames from their collection.
Popular style: Grand-Evo Two
To Sum Up
If you are looking for some of the best Japanese-made sunglasses, you certainly won’t regret buying from any of these brands. What’s more, supporting local businesses is something we should all try to do, so if you are based in Japan, go ahead and treat yourself to some of these top-notch Japanese shades.