What Makes Glasses from Sabae (Japan) So Special?

When customers pick up a frame in my shop, they often ask: "Where is this actually made?" For many of my glasses, the answer is: in Sabae. Few people have heard the name. Yet for glasses, this small town in Japan is roughly what certain places in Switzerland are for watches. Let me briefly tell you why.

A small town with a long eyewear history

Sabae is in Fukui Prefecture, on the side of Japan facing the Sea of Japan. Winters there are long and snowy, and there was little to do in the fields. At the beginning of the 20th century, around 1905, a man named Gozaemon Masunaga brought eyewear craftsmen from Osaka to the region. The idea: farmers should have a second source of income in winter.

Over the decades, this winter work grew into an entire industry. Today, most of the eyeglass frames made in Japan come from Sabae and the surrounding area. In Japan, if you say "glasses" and "Sabae" in one sentence, everyone knows what you mean.

Many hands, each one a specialist

What impresses me most about Sabae as an optician: a pair of glasses there is often not made in one big factory, but in many small workshops. One workshop specialises in hinges, the next in polishing, another in bending metal or working acetate. Everyone does their part, often for generations.

You notice it in details you don't see at first glance: clean solder joints, evenly polished edges, hinges that still feel good after years. That matters to me because I also have to adjust the glasses. A well-made frame can be adjusted precisely and keeps its shape.

Details you can see and feel

When I pick up a Japanese frame, I look at the details first. With metal frames, that's the engraving, for example. Some frames have patterns engraved directly into the metal, so fine that you only really see them up close. That is true craftsmanship.

Fine engraving up close: MATSUDA M3169 in Brushed Gold

Then there's the shape. The metal isn't simply bent flat, but shaped so the glasses get real depth. Look at them from the side: the lines curve and flow into each other, and the frame looks almost like a small sculpture.

It's similar with acetate glasses. Good acetate from Japan often has a beautiful three-dimensionality, with edges and surfaces that catch the light. And what I especially like about the brands I carry: the acetate usually feels wonderfully smooth, almost silky. A lot of polishing goes into that. A photo can only hint at it – it's best to hold a pair like this in your own hands.

Polished acetate with a beautiful shine: MATSUDA M1044 in Grey Crystal

Titanium: Sabae's special strength

Titanium is light, strong and gentle on the skin, but difficult to work with. You can't simply solder it like other metals. Sabae began working intensively with titanium frames back in the 1980s and has since been one of the places with the most know-how in it.

You feel it above all when wearing them: good titanium glasses are so light that after a few minutes you almost forget them. Anyone who has worn heavy glasses all day knows how much difference that makes. Take a look at our MATSUDA or TITANIKA collections to see how different titanium can look.

Is "Made in Sabae" automatically better?

Honestly: not every pair of glasses from Sabae suits every person. The most beautiful frame is useless if it's too wide or slides down your nose. That's why, when advising, I always look at size and fit first, and only then at design and colour. Origin is a good sign of quality, but in the end what counts is how the glasses feel on you.

If you're curious, just drop by and pick up a few frames. You often notice the difference straight away. You'll find more about my selection on the Japanese Eyewear in Berlin page. I advise in German, English or Japanese. If you'd like an eye test at the same time, you can book an appointment here. Walk-ins are welcome too, though you may have to wait a little.

See you soon in Moabit!
Yutaro Fujiyama

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sabae?
Sabae is a town in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, on the side facing the Sea of Japan. It is considered the centre of Japanese eyewear making.

Can I order glasses from Sabae online from you?
No, we only sell our frames in the shop at Emdener Str. 3 in Berlin-Moabit. Glasses need to be tried on and fitted, and that's only possible in person.

Why are titanium glasses from Japan so light?
Titanium is naturally a light and strong material. Because it is so strong, the parts can be made very thin. But working with it takes a lot of experience.