In Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, the nation's center of eyeglass frame production, manufacturers are trying new business avenues to survive, such as tying merchandise to an animated film or producing medical equipment.
With its share of domestic production in excess of 90 percent, Sabae has led the industry in Japan for more than a hundred years. But a recent flow of low-priced eyeglass frames from China has caused firms in Sabae to suffer declining shipments.
According to Fukui Optical Industrial Association, production of eyeglasses began in Sabae around 1905 to provide jobs to Fukui farmers unable to work in winter because of the deep snow. After World War II, a vast site used as an army garrison became home to eyeglass frame manufacturing plants. Over the years, manufacturers have innovated by introducing machinery to improve productivity and trying new materials, including celluloid and titanium. In 1992, eyeglass frame shipments from Fukui topped ¥110 billion.