Silver Lining Opticians has been an authorized dealer of Masunaga eyeglasses and sunglasses for over a decade. Their timeless design and hand crafted quality make them at home in our shop. Here's a thorough history of the brand Masunaga:
Fukui, Japan is one of the three largest production regions for optical frames in the world, along with China and Italy. 97% of Japanese-made optical frames are manufactured in Fukui. Masunaga Optical premiered the production of eyeglasses in Fukui in 1905. The company founder Gozaemon Masunaga brought in skilled craftsmen from Osaka and Tokyo with the ambition of setting the optical industry solidly in place in Fukui.
He entered into the industry the hard way, and at first the eyeglasses manufactured in Fukui were regarded to be third-rate in the world. In order to raise the quality standards of the products, Gozaemon established a guild like system where full-fledged craftsmen could create their own businesses. Owing to this system, the number of eyeglass craftsmen increased gradually, and the optical industry spread all over Fukui.
There are as many as 200 manual processes involved in making an optical frame. Generally, productivity is low when one company is in charge of all the processes. However, Masunaga Optical is the only company in Japan that has a factory in charge of all processes from raw materials to production and finish in an integrated way. The integrated production system improves the detail and quality. For example, when Masunaga Optical develops a new model, the molds are always built in-house. If there is a problem in the wear comfort that can be felt only after completing one pair of glasses, it will be corrected in the previous process’ promptly.
The company’s mission statement since the establishment is “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.” These words are still the basis of the conduct code of employees even more than 100 years after its establishment.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
1905 Gozaemon Masunaga invites craftsmen from Osaka to live in Fukui and establish an optical frame industry in that region
1911 Masunaga wins its first Gold Medal at the National Manufacturing Trade Exhibition
1917 Improved technology for gold/copper and gold/silver frames
1932 Japan Manufacturer’s Association Award for services to trade and industry
1933 Emperor visits Fukui and is presented with 3 Masunaga frames
1936 Gozaemon Masunaga II takes over the company after death of the founder
1955 Main factory moves to present location in Fukui
1957 Company incorporates with Gozaemon Masunaga as President
Visit by Prince Takamatsu
1963 Visit by Prince Mikasa and former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida
1968 Visit by Crown Prince (the present Emperor) and Princess
1970 Masunaga frames placed in Osaka Expo Time Capsule
1979 Junichi Masunaga becomes President
1984 KOKI Europa (Switzerland) established
1989 Satoru Masunaga becomes President
1991 Sales begin of KOKI Sportsflex frames (made of shape memory metal)
1992 KOKI MASUNAGA Malaysia Sdn.Bhd. established
1995 KOKI MASUNAGA Hong Kong established
1997 Masunaga poster wins Boston Good Design Award
1998 Masunaga poster wins Chicago Good Design Award and becomes part of the permanent collection
1999 Visit by Prince Akishino and Princess
Masunaga Group, Inc. (USA) established
2000 Awarded the best prize of Sunglass as the first Japanese company at Silmo Award
Wins IF Design Award
Masunaga poster wins Red dot Award: awarded for communication design in the year 2001
Masunaga poster wins Industrial Art Director Award in 2000, 42nd catalogue & poster Fair
2001 Win Good Design Prize from Secretary of Small and Medium Enterprises
Masunaga poster wins Good Design Award
Masunaga poster wins Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 43rd catalogue & poster Fair
2002 Masunaga 1905 retail store opens in Aoyama, Tokyo
2005 Masunaga 1905 retail store opens at LACHIC in Nagoya
Release the centennial model on the 100th anniversary
Received Design Excellent Company Award
2009 Selected to 300 energetic manufacturers (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
2013 “MASUNAGA G.M.S. Limited 2013” won the Silmo d’Or 2013 Special Jury Prize.
2014 MASUNAGA designed by Kenzo Takada “Campanule” won the Silmo d’Or 2014 for the Sunglass category.
2015 MASUNAGA GMS-106 won the Silmo d’Or 2015 for the optic frame category.