Originally Posted by
wcj1
Not necessarily Japan-specific, but when my husband was looking for new glasses/frames about a year ago (and he has a somewhat difficult prescription), I fell into this rabbit hole of various YouTube videos on manufacturers for both glasses and frames. This guy's videos stuck out, so I thought I would post the link to his specific video about luxury frames (and he goes off in general in his videos on Luxotica (aka Lenscrafters) and how they are affecting the overall market).
Side note: we did both buy glasses on a trip to Seoul in the past and that seemed to go well. While we have discussed it for previous Tokyo trips, we ended up not looking in-person. It does make me wonder what options are like in Taipei for an upcoming trip though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Y55T5UdHw
Having been in the industry for a number of years some time ago, I can echo the dislike for Luxotica and this is actually why I want to find Sabae made frames when I get back to Tokyo.
Luxotica is nothing more than a licensing factory that writes license deals with various fashion brands and almost all of their frames are mass produced in China with very few frames or frame components made in Italy or Germany. The fashion brands are generally not involved in the design process at all, and Luxotica partners with VSP to create a closed loop market in the USA so everyone with a vision plan is directed to a Luxotica frame no matter where they shop.
So, buying a frame in Asia is a totally different experience if you go to any of the optical boutiques, of which there are countless options. Korea is a great place to find frames, but in Taipei you’ll have an almost endless choice of options, mostly Japanese, Italian and German frames from the actual manufacturer - but mixed in will be western brand names that are funneled through Luxotica.
The optical shops there are very small, so you may need to visit 2-3 to find something that you like.
The main advantage to Japan is the weak yen, hence a $600-$800 Matsunaga frame in the US will be a similar equivalent price in Taipei, but perhaps only $400-600 in Tokyo.