Missed opportunities for Japan frame industry

IOFT Optical Fair Tokyo

Just back from a business trip to Tokyo. Always big problems with the jetlag. I cannot sleep there and wake up at 3.00 am when I am back to the Netherlands. Visited the IOFT Optical Fair. Not much of a fair if you ask me. I expected to find a lot of crazy high fashion high quality frames. But none of this. The Japanese seem to admire western brands like Gucci, Versace and other commercial distributors. Luckily I found the booth of Kamuro. His frames are what I was looking for. They are handmade and very exclusive. Materials like titanium, acetate and steel are used. The quality is very high and the designs are crazy and unique. Kamuro also owns two shops. One of them is on Ginza street. A popular brand shopping area in Tokyo.

The fair was a bore. Some other less known brand European exhibitioners I spoke sold nothing. No use to go there. The Japanese want well known western brands. This is incredible because they are superior in designing and production. They could easily become spectacles frame country number 1!!!! In my business I have seen that the most beautiful and highest quality frames are produced in Japan. But they carry a western brand name and so is the design. I hope Kamuro will expand their market to the west and Japan itself with the right marketing. It would be nice if he could spice up the retail collections a bit.

City of Tokyo
The city Tokyo is great. High tech and very high level. I did not expect to find a luxurious environment like I did. Prices are high and food is maybe a little bit cheaper. It certainly is much better with a bigger choice then in the Netherlands or most of the countries I visited. Japan is sushi heaven! I thought that I would find sushi bars on every corner. But this was not the case. In Hong Kong you can findmore sushi bars then in Tokyo. But the quality of the sushi places I found was fantastic.

The following areas are recommended with the Tokyo Metro locations:

• Shimbashi: food and bars
• Ginza: brand shopping area and food. Also there is the Saporo beer hall. In Ginza Core shopping mall on level B2 you can find a fantastic sushi bar.
• Tsukiji: The fish market. You can eat the freshest fish possible but expect to stand in line. Best to visit in the morning
• Shibuya: Shopping and trendy noodle bars. Walk through Center Gai to see trendy Tokyo teenagers and doll style fashion
• Oeno: Shopping

To enjoy a quick Japanese tradition go to Oedo Onsen Monogatari bathing house. You can enjoy inside and outside bathing and washing. Inside you can also find small bars and souvenir shops. Inside bathing is completely nude. Men and women are separated. Outside you can take a footbath in a Kimono. Tokyo tower is less interesting. You can pay and take the fast elevator to get the experience, but it is not very exciting. Nearby is a temple which is quite nice to visit.

Tokyo is something to remember !!