Sabae in Japan's Fukui prefecture is home to dozens of eyewear studios They use cutting-edge machinery to achieve new designs of metal and acetate frames but most stages still require the skilled hands and trained eyes of Sabae’s master artisans '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" JP EN FR 简体中文 繁體中文 Richer living through mindfulness of the traditional Japanese seasons Discovering a richer life in the traditional seasons of Japan Place × Season × Time=Unforgettable experiencesThrilling experiences born of the right place Discovering the hidden stories in everyday lifeUntold stories from just around the corner in Japan Unique brand stories combining tradition with revolutionRevolutionary traditionalism: Brand stories like no other Interviews with the people of the momentMeetings with the women and men who make Japan tick Weaving a lifestyle from Japanese sensibilities and aestheticsBring the Japanese sense of beauty into your life Online salons led by individual hostsThought-provoking discussion led by fascinating figures Premium Japan Members is a synonym for stylish eyewear and is supported by a wide range of ages will be listed on the Standard Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange marking the first time that a Sabae-based eyeglass manufacturer has been listed who has made a big leap forward from his family's eyeglass wholesale business and brought a breath of fresh air to the eyeglass industry as well as the innovations and challenges in the eyeglass industry but accounts for about 3% of the nation's eyeglass production and is one of the world's three largest manufacturing towns It was here in Sabae that Kaneko's father established the eyeglass wholesaler Kaneko Optical Co except for the four years he spent at university he has continued to live in Sabae to this day most of my classmates' parents worked in the eyewear industry but his father made him promise that he would take over the family business after graduating His inability to find his own path in the future had long lingered in his mind and his three children did not take over the family business while other students were busy looking for jobs and I feel that the stimulation and sensitivities I experienced in the city at that time are still with me today." Kaneko is always humble and full of smiles Kaneko returned to Sabae as promised and joined Kaneko Optical He says that for the first time he felt frustrated by the challenges facing his family business There was no opportunity for us to penetrate the major retailers and we had no choice but to work hard to sell to local retailers when we went on business trips we tried to cut costs wherever we could such as sleeping in saunas or highway parking areas instead of hotels but there was a limit to how much we could save." the fact that he was able to listen to customer feedback and develop an eye for glasses while visiting retail stores led to great strides later on he incorporated his privately owned company where you paid a large licensing fee to a famous apparel brand and then engraved the brand name (logo) on glasses and sold them I didn't find those glasses very appealing So I started thinking about what kind of glasses I would want and started coming up with my own designs." This was the beginning of Kaneko Optical's business model It was just around the time when the bubble burst and the fashion industry was also going through a period of great change People's interest shifted from brand shops to select shops and the trend of dressing from head to toe in luxury brands was replaced by a style of coordinating items based on one's own sensibilities glasses were just a vision correction device it was common for someone in a white coat to test your eyesight as the way people enjoy fashion changed and glasses began to be considered a fashion item the importance of the design of the glasses became greater than the brand logo I think that with this historical background BLAZE was able to ride the wave of this transformation in fashion." He says he finds it frustrating that as the company grows it becomes more difficult to visit all the stores and communicate with all the employees Kaneko gained the opportunity to sell his products to shops in fashion-conscious areas such as Shibuya and Harajuku which he had not been able to enter before because he was self-taught in eyeglass design retailers continued to reject his products "Retailers repeatedly criticized the structure of the glasses I would take them home and make corrections we had a product that was recognized by popular shops it became a popular product that many people picked up." The pursuit of originality and end-to-end manufacturing that was born from Kaneko's foresight and sensibility was a revolution in the eyewear industry and marked the moment when glasses were elevated to eyewear the company launched the more unique "SPIVVY" brand and expanded into New York helping to fuel the company's growth as a private brand Kaneko could not simply rejoice in the success of his company's original brand and was increasingly worried about the dwindling Sabae eyeglasses industry who was prepared to go out of business due to the dwindling business "I want you to see the eyeglasses I made." "The moment I held the glasses in my hands I was taken aback by their overwhelming presence Although they were by no means sophisticated the sense of craftsmanship and the weight of life that they conveyed and their brilliance that I had never seen in glasses before I immediately began working towards commercializing them." He says that Kaneko gave advice on the design "We considered coming up with a cool name in English but we felt that Yamamoto Taihachiro's name itself would be most appropriate for the glasses that Yamamoto made one by one by hand so we created the brand 'Taihachiro Kinsei'." you can find out the name of the producer as well as the origin of the vegetables and meat it must have been quite a challenge to use the name of an unknown craftsman as a brand name "Our factory is equipped with highly precise equipment but I want as many people as possible to realize that the work of artisans has a charm that no machine I think you can feel the warmth of handmade traditional craftsmanship when you hold the item in your hands." Kaneko also created the "Eyeglasses Craftsman Brand" which takes pride in Sabae's techniques Sun Platinum craftsman," "Made by Chobei Otake," "Made by Tamio Ido," and "Made by Yoichi Sasaki," and became one of the pillars of Kaneko Eyeglasses the store's image is not advertised in any special way Kaneko's design skills are recognized by many people but what supports this is the fact that Kaneko Optical has its own factory and produces products in a one-stop manner This was also an innovative initiative in the eyewear industry where the division of labor is usually common "Eyeglasses are called semi-finished products Lenses must be inserted and the fit and other adjustments must be made before the glasses are complete Kaneko Optical's business is only viable if we can handle all of this in-house but the truth is that the many people who came to Japan from China and shopped at Kaneko Optical were unable to provide maintenance after purchase This was also intended to solve the problem." He also said that this business style is making it difficult to expand into the US and Europe Because the facial bone structure of Westerners and Asians is slightly different eyeglass frames need to be resized to suit Westerners One reason is that they cannot currently do this in their own factory and an even more advanced one will be completed in 2025 I often tell our employees that everyone at our company plays a key role: those who design It's only with everyone's efforts that the glasses are completed." was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Although Kaneko Optical has expanded dramatically Kaneko's commitment to manufacturing and passion for product quality has not changed at all I believe that now we need to give careful thought to how we can protect and grow our corporate brand for the sake of our investors." Kaneko also has the responsibility of leading manufacturing in Sabae "I'm an outsider from Sabae and have been able to do what I want without belonging to any associations I would be happy if I can show young people that from now on even local industries can get listed on the stock exchange and shed a little light on Sabae's future," he said Although he commutes between Sabae and Tokyo he says he still spends most of his time in Sabae the company was incorporated as Kaneko Optical Co. the company launched its first original brand collections the company launched the handmade eyeglass brands "Taiyaro Kinsei" and "Tsunemosa" he became the company's representative director the company opened its directly managed store "FACIAL INDEX NEW YORK Tokyo Store" on Nakadori Street in Marunouchi the company opened its first directly managed store in France the Chinese corporation "Kaneko Optical (Shanghai) Co. he became the president and representative director of Japan Eyewear Holdings The company's fourth factory is scheduled to be completed in 23 the company has approximately 5 stores in Japan and five stores overseas (in China and France) publisher and editor-in-chief of Premium Japan After working at a foreign advertising agency he held positions in charge of marketing and PR at top brands such as Walt Disney Because his parents' home was an environment that taught Japanese culture such as tea ceremony and kimono dressing he acquired the business rights to Premium Japan in 2017 and established Premium Japan Co. In addition to informing you of the latest information via newsletter we also plan to inform you of exclusive events and give away special gifts we'll learn all about Japanese eyeglasses: Adapting ideas into solutions and putting them into action If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 9 1/2 Things You Would Do Differently by Fred Lee 62 percent of total health care expenditures are paid out-of-pocket making basic health care out of reach for many families Healthcare costs are considered the number one reason that Egyptian families drop below the poverty line and citizens are disempowered to change the system – lacking the tools to navigate health care services or hold providers accountable for quality care Shamseya (Opens in a new tab) is a social enterprise creating participatory approaches to health care Shamseya puts people at the center of health care decision-making Their community monitoring tool allows citizens to assess and choose between over 500 hospitals in all 12 governorates of the country Results from these assessments get turned into recommendations that Shamseya delivers to hospital management teams working alongside them to implement improvements which mobilize thousands of users each month Shamseya is leading communities to advocate for health care issues including making palliative and end-of-life care available and affordable to all patients in need and training community members in early detection of avoidable blindness in children Shamseya’s approach empowers Egyptian citizens to make the health care system work for all "Taking the community mobilization model my company developed in Egypt to monitor public healthcare services in remote rural areas in Tunisia validated the significance of this work Seeing it in action and producing results in a totally different context is a success story that is special to me." My initial expectations from the Fellowship revolved around getting technical support in the management of my organization What I got was far more pivotal to my story guidance and numerous inspiring moments and ideas my team's stories were better told and our impact was magnified I believe I am now a more wholesome person Charles Daniels’s story and work completely defined my first encounter with the Fellowship The way he took his personal story and turned it into work I admire was most inspiring to me The challenges faced by the Fellows taught me lessons I couldn't have learned in decades The Barack Obama Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 46-4950751) We need your help to turn hope into action—to inspire The Obama Foundation Shop (Opens in a new tab) is stepping up its efforts to fill the city which is the largest source of frames made in Japan please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent Objects and signs in the shape of glasses are not the only decorations found on the city’s streets; designs of glasses are hiding in all kinds of places making the city a photo hotspot for social media users Both sides of the about 1,500-meter-long “Megane (glasses) Street” sport objects featuring glasses of all sizes It’s a sight that attracts many people seeking shots for their social media accounts The street was developed by the Sabae municipal government and connects Sabae Station on the Hapi-Line Fukui Line which is operated by a third-sector company and the Sun Dome Fukui multi-purpose indoor facility Along a 900-meter-or-so section between the station and the Megane Museum there are also steps with glasses patterns engraved into them and glasses-shaped benches and plantings Even bollards at an intersection are wearing silver-framed glasses “Private companies started placing many of [the designs] voluntarily and they increased before we even noticed,” a Sabae municipal government official said Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Such words led to the creation of a wristwatch that can be worn using just one hand SANYOU, an urushi (Japanese lacquer) manufacturer in Sabae City, Fukui Prefectureー the world's leading eyewear　manufacturing districtーcreates and sells these “bangle watches” Is there a way to put on a watch as one would hook eyeglasses around their ears This idea led to the development of a new product that incorporates the manufacturing technology of eyeglass frames SANYOU started off as a traditional Echizen lacquerware company has been creating wristwatches with lacquer dials with hope of increasing the opportunity for people to appreciate the traditional lacquering techniques Igarashi showed watches at an exhibition to promote the product He was approached at the time by a visitor who said the following: “I love wristwatches I’m unable to put on leather band watches by myself I wish there was an easier way to wear them.”  Having always wanted to integrate local technology into making wristwatches Can eyewear technology be used to place them on wrists?”  he was inspired to apply the company’s skills in manufacturing eyeglass frames With help from a local eyeglass frame makerーPlus Jack Inc.ーMr The shape of the watch was quickly decided a bangle can be worn with the gap on the bracelet widening when pressed against the wrist The idea was to attach a watch onto the bangle because they could not form the bangle into a shape that could be easily removed prototypes had to be made over and over again he even thought about giving up on the project but roused himself to continue and vowed to “go all out” the product was finally completed when the team arrived at the optimal 0.6mm thickness for the titanium plate which plays the role of a spring on the watches and determines the comfort of the wearer it doesn’t feel too tight on the wrist but it won’t come off when summer came around SANYOU was able to recover sales as Mr Igarashi realized a new need surrounding the watch “There were many people who wanted to purchase craft products from Fukui for themselves It seems nostalgia for their hometown grew stronger due to the pandemic.” “I’m glad to see people choose the watch because they are made using the technology of Fukui lacquerware and eyeglasses “The making of these watches involve a wide variety of steps such as lacquering and metal and resin processing Just selling one watch alone means jobs will be commissioned in Sabae (Find the original article here Author: The Sankei Shimbun - Western Japan You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy JINS is readying its new “JINS SABAE” line — a new bespoke collection of luxury frames crafted by eyewear artisans in Japan The name of the collection derives from Sabae a historic city located in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture — also where the frames are crafted Sabae is a place with a rich history in eyewear manufacturing and is especially known for pioneering the production of high-quality titanium frames every piece from the collection has been made with utmost care and quality by skilled craftsmen who have dedicated years to their craft Are you ready to explore the cutting-edge advancements shaping the electronics manufacturing industry The May 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine is packed with insights and expert perspectives that you won’t want to miss Has X-ray’s time finally come in electronics manufacturing where we answer this question and others to bring more efficiency to your bottom line If you’re going to Anaheim for IPC APEX EXPO 2025 consider this issue of SMT007 Magazine to be your golden ticket to planning the show Estimated reading time: Less than a minute a manufacturing subsidiary of Murata Manufacturing Co. has completed a new research and development building that had been under construction on its premises since February 2022 and a ceremony to celebrate its completion was held on September 13 (Wed) The new research and development building will be used for developing plating technology suitable for making electronic components smaller as well as the necessary technology to bring it to mass production.  Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information I had speculated that perhaps there were about 10 steps to making a pair of eyeglasses “Megane wa kao no ichibu desu” (eyeglasses are a part of one’s face) went a famed TV commercial many moons ago round eyeglasses connected by a half-circle bridge over the nose are charmingly called “lunettes,” half moons the Japanese phrase “grilled eyeball” for a sunny-side-up fried egg sounds grotesque--but I’ve digressed The eyeglasses capital of Japan is not in a big industrial zone like Keiyo in Chiba or Chukyo in Nagoya an entrepreneur from the poor farming village invited craftsmen from Osaka to teach the villagers how to make “megane” (eyeglasses) as a side gig during the snowy winters Sabae’s humidity made metal frames rust easily which led to experimentation and development of new materials that eventually led to the creation of the world’s first titanium optical frames which today have become an international standard about a 10-minute walk along Megane Street from JR Sabae Station will answer all your eyeglass frame questions even ones you didn’t know you had until you saw the historical and educational exhibits iconic white building with the gigantic red frames on top work studio where you can experience frame-making and a shop that sells made-in-Fukui glasses I bought a pair of handmade black titanium frames When I showed dismay at having to wait two weeks for a prescription lens to be put in them and the impossibility of returning to pick them up I was told that Fukui Optical Association has a Tokyo showroom in Minami-Aoyama “Oshorin,” a film featuring trailblazers of Fukui’s eyewear industry in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) is slated to be released in late 2023 to commemorate the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Fukui-Tsuruga Line the following spring Oshorin is an old Fukui dialect word that means a springtime frozen snow surface My new spectacles fit spectacularly and are a joy to wear a Washington-born and Tokyo-based photographer It is part of the series "Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan," which depicts various places across the country through the perspective of the author Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Asaka city: Take your best shot at GSDF shooting and flight simulators Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Kenrokuen: Arrive early to savor tranquil atmosphere and save some yen Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Kusatsu hot springs: An onsen town that still conjures up memories of the good old days Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Omihachiman city: Lip gloss for a better future Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Iya Valley: Swinging vines and bridges bring Tarzan and Jane to mind Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Otsuki: Look around and you’ll find Momotaro everywhere Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times View Larger Map The city of Sabae in Fukui Prefecture has been the site of eyeglass frame production for more than a century and is the only major production site in Japan to have survived to the present day craftsmen working in Sabae were the first in the world to develop the technology for producing frames using light but sturdy titanium much less likely to cause metal allergies than conventional materials Sabae produces a remarkable 96 percent of all the eyeglass frames produced in Japan there are 47 eyeglass frame manufacturers in Sabae along with as many as 500 companies involved in the wider business Many of these companies are striving to develop overseas markets for their products and exhibiting at major international trade fairs such as the MIDO in Milan and Silmo in Paris Year after year local designers garner international design prizes The unrivaled quality and design of Sabae’s products have made them increasingly popular among discerning celebrities around the globe who frequently sported a pair of Sabae specs during the 2008 US presidential election campaign Eyeglass frames have been produced in Sabae since 1905 The industry began as an off-season sideline for agricultural workers but took off during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth following World War II Demand was given another boost with the introduction of titanium frames “People in Sabae have always been patient and conscientious and those are precisely the qualities you need for painstaking work like making eyeglasses,” says Watanabe Satoshi a city hall worker responsible for promoting Sabae’s eyeglass industry “These qualities must have been part of the reason for the dramatic success of the industry here.” Sabae’s companies built up their businesses as “original equipment manufacturers,” making frames and parts on a contract basis for other companies’ brands But changes in the market in recent years have made it tough going for the city’s frame-makers With the expanding market share of low-cost manufacturers in China and growing competition from cheap retailers in Japan Sabae’s production and sales peaked in 1992 the volume of units shipped and the number of people employed in the industry have dropped by around a third And over this period about 40 percent of Sabae’s eyeglass companies have gone out of business “Since 2000 the city has been aiming to shift from being simply a producer to a place that both produces and retails our own brands,” Watanabe explains “This is crucial if we are to break away from dependence on the OEM business model Our companies can draw on the technological strengths they have developed over their long history and use these to become more competitive by launching their own brands and retail outlets This is the beginning of a new age for many of our producers.” Crucial aspects of the Sabae success story are advanced technical skills and an outstanding design sensibility. One company with those attributes that has been attracting a lot of attention recently is Boston Club which runs retail outlets in Minami-Aoyama and Ginza two of Tokyo’s most fashionable neighborhoods Chief designer Kasashima Hironobu has been with Boston Club since 1996 when the company launched its first proprietary brand created on the basis of world-class technology reflects a distinctly Japanese aesthetic—helping to drive the popularity of “Made in Japan” eyeglasses The company’s strategy to stay ahead of its Chinese competitors had for a long time been based on designing products that could only be made with Japanese technology but the company’s approach has changed recently “Traveling to international fairs overseas allows me to see with my own eyes what today’s consumers are looking for This experience brought home to me that constantly emphasizing the technical know-how we have built up over the years is not enough to make us internationally competitive to appeal to the consumer by going beyond technical prowess We need to promote the worldview expressed by our brand and appeal to the consumer by emphasizing the values that lie behind it.” Boston Club was looking for a brand concept that would be easily understood and appreciated around the world the company decided to market itself by emphasizing longevity; namely eyeglasses people can use for many years without tiring of them It was a concept that turned the previous design conventions on their head the company’s eyeglasses also offer customers outstanding functionality Boston Club developed the new Rudder Hinge that can be detached and replaced when necessary This sort of feature encapsulates Japanese craftsmanship and technology that go beyond the level of superficial design “Our glasses were well received at trade fairs in Europe,” Kasashima explains “I think we were successful in making people aware of the possibilities of Japanese eyeglasses We want to go beyond attractive designs and traditional technology Our aim is to find a way of expressing a distinctly Japanese way of looking at the world through the design of our glasses I’m confident that there is a global demand for this kind of Japanese aesthetic.” The specially developed Rudder Hinge is the key characteristic of the Japonism Projection series the frames can be used almost indefinitely Alongside all this innovation the technical skills that have driven Sabae’s industry since its inception are still cherished and handed down from generation to generation Now 82 years old, Masunaga Makoto is the founder and president of Makoto Optical Co., Ltd. He is the grandson of the man who founded the Sabae eyeglass industry Although he now leaves the day-to-day running of the company to his son Shōji Makoto still puts his skills as a celluloid frame maker to good use in the company factory He is a veteran craftsman whose skills have been honed over a career that stretches back more than 60 years The process of making celluloid frames for a pair of spectacles involves more than 100 steps Although today many of the stages in the process can be done by machine the subtle finishing touches are still done by hand by a skilled craftsman Masunaga Makoto uses his favorite file to get the frames into just the right shape The most difficult of all these steps is the process known as “polishing.” This involves smoothing out the surfaces of the frames after machining by removing blemishes and imperfections and then burnishing the material to a sheen It is a job that takes lots of practice to get right—around 10 years according to a popular saying in the trade Masunaga uses eight different kinds of tools and carries out every part of the painstaking process by hand He explains why he sticks to this approach: "It’s impossible to get just the right kind of soft rounded shape with a machine Balance is really important with a pair of glasses The frame needs to fit exactly on the face But it’s something that can’t be measured precisely in figures subtle differences are there when you put the glasses on Sabae craftsmen are really devoted to our work That’s why we’ve been able to keep on making a superior product for so long Masunaga Makoto shows off his thumbs worn flat after years spent polishing Sabae’s high-quality eyeglass frames The company president Masunaga Shōji grew up watching his father at work The company’s own brand Ayumi was launched in spring 2000 This new brand is also built on Sabae’s distinct culture of craftsmanship “One of the characteristics of Japanese craftsmanship is a kind of redundancy of detail There is a tendency to pay careful attention to the minutest details The spirit of Japanese craftsmanship often involves spending more time and effort over producing something than is strictly necessary,” says Shōji a durable material that is resistant to warping Veteran craftsmen work to ensure a snug fit and fine sheen for the finished product “We wanted to spend as much time as necessary to get the product exactly right The economics of the project are not so important because our aim was to produce something faithful to the fundamentals of the craft There is a kind of “analog” beauty that just can’t be achieved digitally It is something we were only able to create thanks to being based in Sabae—this unique center of eyeglass making in Japan.” These two handcrafted Ayumi frames from Makoto Optical (whose president is pictured above) typify Sabae craftsmanship more than 20 local manufacturers banded together to develop a single brand for the Sabae industry as a whole—called “The 291.” The aim for this brand is to bring the high quality of Sabae’s eyeglasses to a broader spectrum of consumers followed in 2010 by the opening of another outlet Around 20 manufacturers exhibit and sell their latest models at the Aoyama shop and eyeglasses from around 40 companies are available at the Megane Museum outlet Growing numbers of Japanese and overseas tourists are making a special trip to Sabae to visit the museum The city has also teamed up with apparel brands in recent years to develop new products and has taken part in Tokyo Girls Collection Ambitious new marketing ideas include an online retail presence produced by the popular fashion model Rinka (Originally written in Japanese by Nogami Tomoko Population: Approx. 67,000 (Jan. 2012)Access: Sabae can be reached by train on the JR Hokuriku Main Line; the nearest air access is via Komatsu Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture. Information: See the Sabae municipal website for more details Head to Premium Bandai to get your hands on eyewear inspired by the one and only Sailor V! The result of a collaboration between the Sailor Moon anime series and glasses manufacturer Maison Sabae in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, these glasses are incredibly high quality and they look great, too! Pre-orders for the Maison Sabae Sailor Moon Sailor V Transformation Eyewear started at 1:00 p.m and they retail for ¥16,200 (including tax Simply pop these glasses on to immediately transform into Sailor V from Sailor Moon Sailor V was the first alternate identity of Minako Aino who is the present-day incarnation of Sailor Venus and these glasses are inspired by her mask They also happen to be the momentous first product to come from Maison Sabae an eyewear brand that launched this autumn Maison Sabae products let you transform into your favourite characters just by popping on snazzy eyewear Sailor V first appeared as the main character in Codename: Sailor V the manga from which the entire Sailor Moon franchise began is handcrafted by artisans from Sabae City in Fukui Prefecture and an impressive 90% of Japan's glasses are manufactured there With those immediately recognisable flairs these glasses boast the quality molding and colouring that you'd expect from a product made in Japan You might want to check out the trendy Beams Japan store in Tokyo's vibrant Shinjuku district on the day that pre-orders start The Bandai Fashion Net area located in the Tokyo Culture Transmission Base on the store's fourth floor will be home to an exhibition and pre-order desk but pre-orders are only available while stocks last 2016 while stocks lastEstimated Delivery: Late March 2017 please see the product page.*Products only available while supplies last.**Sales may end without notice.**Product details may change without notice.**Images show products in development Source: @Press The yearly anime convention was first held in Springfield and this year’s event was packed with roughly 7,000 attendees Has Sailor Moon used her disguise pen to turn into an office lady? but it looks like she’s ready to work overtime Join the official fan club for exclusive Sailor Moon goodies Just like the Sailor Senshi are always there for each other so too are the members of this documentary’s group of cosplay collaborators Canonsburg residents focused their attention late this week on remembering Dalia Sabae and on trying to raise money for the family of the officer killed while trying to help her Friends gathered in Canonsburg Thursday afternoon and evening for a visitation for Ms Continue reading → a 28-year-old woman who spoke six languages and worked at a local pharmacy while studying for an advanced degree National Report Fukui Prefecture—The hills of Nishiyama Park here are alive in a sea of white and fuchsia colors as 50,000 azaleas of 11 varieties are in full bloom attracting awestruck visitors from near and far The park’s iconic Sabae Tsutsuji (azalea) festival which will be held for three days starting on May 3 family friendly games and other attractions The annual event typically drew around 200,000 visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic organizers expect even bigger crowds thanks to the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March The flowers at the park can be enjoyed throughout the Golden Week holidays More information can be found at the city's website:  https://www.city.sabae.fukui.jp/tsutsujifes/ Lisa’s Wanderings Around Japan/ Sabae: Peer into the history of eyeglasses at Fukui museum　 Inn topped by grounded boat in tsunami-hit city to be torn down Analysis shows 3 more Chinese zodiac animals at Kitora Tomb Diplomat’s 1895 letter confesses to assassination of Korean queen Canonsburg Police Chief Alex Coghill gives an update on the ambush that killed Canonsburg police Officer Scott Bashioum Dalia Sabae also died when she was shot inside her home by her husband A second Canonsburg police was also wounded in the ambush Don Cross is being credited with using driving his vehicle through the line of fire twice during Thursday’s ambush to rescue two fallen Canonsburg police officers CANONSBURG – The Canonsburg police officer killed Thursday answering a domestic call was ambushed with shots fired from a second-floor window as he approached a residence on Woodcrest Drive Bashoium and James Saieva were ambushed outside the house at 120 Woodcrest by Michael Cwiklinski The 52-year-old Bashioum died a short time later at Canonsburg Hospital Saieva was flown to Allegheny General Hospital were later found dead on the second floor of the home She had a protection-from-abuse order against her husband Canonsburg police Chief Alexander Coghill said at a news conference held Saturday to lay out some details of the shooting that Bashioum got out of his car and walked toward the house “Bashioum was fired upon immediately from a second-floor window with a high-powered rifle and was hit twice,” Coghill said striking multiple rounds in and through the window Saieva was struck by one round of a high-powered rifle as he was still in his patrol vehicle Donald Cross arrived on scene moments later and saw Patrolman Bashioum on the ground He moved his patrol vehicle through the line of fire close to the fallen officer where he dragged him partially into his vehicle.” John Holt helped Cross get Bashioum into the patrol vehicle Bashioum was immediately taken to Canonsburg Hospital Cross then drove another patrol vehicle through the line of fire to Saieva’s position The two officers took cover behind a vehicle and Cross got Saieva into a patrol vehicle as Collins maintained cover for the officers as Cwiklinski fired at them Saieva was transported to Canonsburg Hospital and then flown to the Pittsburgh hospital Coghill said Saieva is in excellent spirits and hopes to be released from the hospital soon Cwiklinski also fired shots at a vehicle he had parked on the street in front of the house “Cwiklinski had previously loaded this vehicle with gasoline propane and acetylene tanks,” Coghill said “This vehicle was struck by at least two rounds Numerous departments along with the Washington Regional SWAT team arrived and surrounded the residence “Precaution was taken because of the previous explosive device and a robot was used to eventually make entry into the residence,” Coghill said more propane tanks were found along with a lit acetylene torch The Allegheny County Bomb Squad was notified and rendered the vehicle and residence safe prior to entry by investigators.” who is overseeing the investigation for state police said Cwiklinski was not living with Sabae at the time of the incident Investigators are not sure how he entered the residence “The two propane tanks and lit acetylene torch made for a volatile situation that could have exploded,” Yarosh said “We were lucky that once the robot entered inside Yarosh said investigators talked with Cwiklinski’s family “His family is remorseful and saddened,” Yarosh said but never thought he’d do anything with them.” Yarosh said Cwiklinski lived in the Washington County area for most of his life When asked about Sabae having a protection-from-abuse order Yarosh advised anyone who gets one should abide by it but you have to be smart about things and abide by what the court says.” Canonsburg police will not be on patrol in the borough for the foreseeable future Those duties are being handled by neighboring departments the Washington County sheriff’s department and state police Coghill said state police will be on patrol in the borough during Wednesday’s funeral services for Bashioum Coghill said the department is grateful for all the support from the community and other law enforcement “This is one job that you never know what the day will bring,” Coghill said Get Cappers Farmer Delivered Directly To Your Inbox Bashioum’s funeral service will be at noon Wednesday at Church of the Covenant Monday and Tuesday at Beinhauer Funeral Home Details of a procession from the church to the Cemetery of the Alleghenies a time frame for the procession will be announced for anyone wanting to pay their respects along the route The Western Pennsylvania Police Benevolent Fund started an Officer Scott Bashioum Children’s Fund can be made at branches of Washington Financial If you have an account and are registered for online access sign in with your email address and password below Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe Copyright © Observer-Reporter | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy By Akira Miura / Special to The Japan News The year 2024 started with the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on New Year’s Day a catastrophic disaster that devastated the Hokuriku region (Ishikawa this region is a major production area of filament yarns for synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon Nylon produced in the region is used in a wide range of products from Prada’s famous nylon bags to low-priced clothing most of the factories escaped the worst of the disaster and impact has been limited to delivery delays was also left mostly unscathed because it was relatively distant from the epicenter nicknamed “eyeglasses town,” is often cited as a successful example of regional revitalization in Japan Toward the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912) regarded as the father of Japanese eyewear helped eyeglass manufacturing take root as a side job for farmers in Sabae during the agricultural off-season Production of titanium eyeglass frames in the 1980s gave a big boost to Sabae and the city became one of the world’s major eyewear production areas Italy; Jura department in France; and Shenzhen but the city continues to provide top-quality spectacles to the world THE291 (pronounced “The Fukui”) brand was established in Sabae as the city’s unified brand A whopping 95% of domestic glasses are produced in and around Sabae And did you know that some of the fashionable sunglasses worn by the cast of the “Matrix” film series were manufactured in the city made headlines when the company bought out 67% of the shares of Fukui Megane Industry Ltd making the company EssilorLuxottica’s production center in Japan the foremost men’s fashion brand in the world the namesake brand of Japan’s top eyewear designer Yuichi Toyama collaborated on eyewear that went on sale from late November at some Giorgio Armani boutiques in the country stores selling Yuichi Toyama.-brand eyeglasses and other places He was employed by an eyewear maker in Fukui Prefecture in 1993 and worked in marketing He went independent in 2004 and launched his own brand which he rebranded as “Yuichi Toyama.” from the spring-summer collection in 2017 he is famous as one of Japan’s top eyewear designers and his brand is so popular that it’s a challenge to even purchase its products “I happened across [Giorgio] Armani’s eyewear designs in the latter half of the 1980s and that’s what made me decide to become an eyewear designer,” Toyama said As someone who is familiar with fashion in the 1970s and the 1980s Giorgio Armani successfully made Italian tailored suits a world standard as a men’s fashion revolutionary in the late 1970s but it was the sunglasses that ultimately nailed down his styling let me run off on a tangent and mention Giorgio Armani will turn 90 this year I’m also setting my eyes on another iconic The Giorgio Armani-Yuichi Toyama collaboration has recently born fruit in the form of a unisex eyewear collection that is both elegant and timeless manufactured with a fusion of Armani’s Italian style traditional Japanese craftsmanship and Toyama’s innovative designs all complete with Toyama’s signature “Double Dutch” frames inspired by jump ropes one has a minimalist design with a titanium frame and the other comes with oval lenses in a 1980s-style silhouette Both types offer a choice of four colors and will have a ¥99,000 price tag round rims made of beta titanium alloy and acetate The other fuses a Giorgio Armani eyewear style from the 1980s and Yuichi Toyama’s Double Dutch frames will also have the option of four different colors Japanese-made titanium of the finest quality is used for the rims and the hinges are engraved with the logos of both brands the glasses were all manufactured in Fukui Prefecture the promotional photos for the collaboration were shot at the Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum which was designed by architect Tadao Ando who also designed the Armani/Teatro in Milan and is a good friend of Armani himself Miura is a journalist and a former editor in chief of WWD JAPAN was working as a pharmacy intern at Jeffreys Drug Store in Canonsburg in order to earn her license to practice in the United States Sabae was looking forward to the birth of her baby boy whom she told co-workers she was going to name Antonio shot her with a rifle in their Canonsburg home The gunman also shot and killed Canonsburg police Officer Scott Bashioum and wounded another officer in an ambush after the policemen responded at 3:19 a.m to reports of a domestic situation at the Woodcrest Avenue duplex where Sabae had worked since June 2015 and was beloved said she “was the biggest light in any room.” She had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve ever met,” said Holly Wargo “When I came back to work after my husband died last year Even though she struggled with her situation Sabae will be buried in Oak Spring Cemetery Thursday at Salandra Funeral and Cremations Services Inc A celebration of life and dove release will be held graveside at 1:30 p.m Funeral expenses are being covered by Jeffreys Drug Store Salandra and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office Victims Compeion Fund Oak Spring Cemetery has donated a burial plot Malone Flower Shop has donated a casket lid spray Jeffreys Drug Store owner Gerard O’Hare said he and the pharmacy employees became a family to Sabae introducing the vegetarian to chicken spinach pizza O’Hare gave her a car when she finally earned a driver’s license – after a dozen attempts She had the best laugh,” said pharmacist Brian King who noted Sabae watched a movie every day in one of the six languages she spoke in order to keep sharp Sabae also ate at least one Snickers bar every day at the pharmacy and co-workers said she always sang along to the radio that plays in the front of the store But O’Hare and co-workers feared for her safety including once after her estranged husband hit her in the head with a heavy bagful of cans at a grocery store Cwiklinski recently told her that she and their unborn baby should die Store manager Cheryl Kusky said she and other co-workers had offered many times to let Sabae stay with them saying she didn’t want to endanger anyone else O’Hare said Sabae told him her estranged husband had guns and employees worried that he would come into the store to harm her and them Kusky said Sabae planned to leave her estranged husband after she found out she was pregnant Sabae’s death marks the third time in 13 months that a Washington County woman has been killed by her estranged husband Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania will hold a “Call to Action Saturday in front of the Canonsburg borough building in response to Sabae’s death DVSSP also is hosting a program on PFAs at 6 p.m whom she met 10 years ago and lived with briefly in Russia before moving to Canonsburg and had just rented another apartment she was preparing to move into She was really getting her life in order,” said Kusky and she was planning her future with her baby She said she had made her decision and she was going to get away from (her estranged husband) because she was going to protect the baby.” Memorial contributions may be made to Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania One man suffered minor burns and was transported to the hospital due to a fire that broke out on Monday in Fukui Prefecture at a two-story wooden former factory and residence in Sabae It took approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes to extinguish the fire A fire broke out near JR Kitasabae Station in Fukui Prefecture — service on the Hokuriku Line has been suspended between Fukui and Tsuruga stations in both directions in addition to the Thunderbird and other express trains services on the Hokuriku Line between Fukui and Tsuruga stations were suspended in both directions Designed based on Sakamoto’s glasses in the anime Haven’t You Heard these new glasses are manufactured in the city of Sabae the leading glasses manufacturer in Japan which produces 90% of glasses domestically and are now available for pre-order on Bandai’s official shopping site There will also be a deluxe version (15,120 yen; tax included shipping and handling separate) using a Swarovski crystal to recreate Sakamoto’s mole like the roomwear for turning into Sakamoto and a blackboard eraser pouch Product Purchase Pages:Sakamoto’s Glasses from Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto with Swarovski Mole Sakamoto’s Glasses from Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto without Mole ■ About the GlassesThese are based on the cool and overwhelmingly popular high school student and protagonist of the anime Haven’t You Heard They’re manufactured in Fukui Prefecture’s Sabae where 90% of glasses are made domestically at a frame maker shop by the name of Yamamori Megane Two versions are being made available: the full frame type On the inside of the frames you’ll find Sakamoto’s name His trademark mole under his left eye has also been recreated in a deluxe version using a Swarovski crystal on the lens adding to a design that’s every bit as stylish as Sakamoto himself including roomwear for turning into Sakamoto ■ Product Details・Name: Sakamoto’s Glasses from Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto with Swarovski Mole・Price: 15,120 yen (tax included shipping and handling separate)・Versions: full frame type ・Name: Sakamoto’s Glasses from Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto without Mole・Price: 14,040 yen (tax included Shared Details・Available Through: Premium Bandai and others・Pre-order Period: July 13 at 1:00 p.m while supplies last・Release: Planned for October 2016 please see the product pages.*Products only available while supplies last.**Sales may end without notice.**Products details may change without notice.**Images show products in development I’m SakamotoThe comedy anime Haven’t You Heard I’m Sakamoto was aired between April and July 2016 on TBS and BS-TBS and follows high school student and protagonist Sakamoto This overwhelmingly cool character doesn’t mind or react when his chair is taken away during class and will politely obey even the most ridiculous orders from his upperclassmen The surrounding characters fall in love with his antics which are more like gags to viewers The original manga was first serialized in 2011 and took second place in “Kono Manga ga Sugoi ■ About Premium BandaiPremium Bandai is Bandai’s official online store where kids and adults alike can enjoy all things Bandai anytime It offers special items that you can’t buy anywhere else and also has an e-mail magazine that will keep you updated on all of the latest information Source: @Press Made in Japan is one of the most prestigious labels in the global eyewear business built upon more than a century of expertise centred in the Fukui prefecture Located on the west coast of Japan’s main island Honshu dates its first production of eyewear to 1905 Brothers Masunaga and Kohachi Gozaemon led the inception with the aim of finding a source of income for the farming off-season Driven by the onset of widespread printing and a subsequent demand for reading glasses production soon spread to nearby Sabae City which has been synonymous with Japanese eyewear and master craftsmanship ever since Register now to access up to 10 news and opinion articles a month Already have an account? Sign in here Optician magazine is the leading independent Every issue of Optician is packed full of the latest news insights and information for optical professionals started accepting reservations for Kuroko’s Basketball Midorima Shintaro Glasses on May 11 This item is a collaboration with Maison Sabae a city famous for producing about 90% of glasses made in Japan The glasses perfectly replicate the half-rim design and long rectangular shape of their anime counterparts They also feature his jersey number 6 and his school name Shutoku in the style of their uniform logo carved into the temples in gold They come with a case as well as a cleaning cloth featuring an illustration newly drawn for this collaboration Get a better look at Midorima's glasses at the Bandai Fashion Collection page or the Kuroko’s Basketball Maison Sabae Midorima Shintaro Glasses page on Premium Bandai Reservations are accepted until stocks last product delivery is scheduled for September Source: @Press These collaborative accessories make awesome good luck charms Cast and staff members attended an event in Shinjuku to speak to fans about their love for the series Kyoto Red Cross Blood Center has joined hands with Kuroko’s Basketball The Movie: Last Game for a donation campaign headed by Akashi Seijuro Play with life-size characters from Kuroko’s Basketball The center of premium eyewear manufacturing is a small city in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture. In Sabae one in six residents works in the eyewear industry Frame production in the region began in the early 20th century but it was the city’s innovations in titanium during the ‘80s that put Sabae on the map its factories also offer high-quality acetate construction One brand that produces sunglasses in Sabae is Eyevan 7285 the brand offers a range of tasteful frames made from top-tier acetate and titanium The styles are nuanced and ridiculously cool but they’ll typically set you back about $500 But now at Ssense you can save up to 54 percent on a range of sunglasses from Eyevan 7285 but act fast — it’s rare to score eyewear of this quality for these prices Epitome Sunglasses by Eyevan 7285 $257 $180 Tortoiseshell Lubin-E Sunglasses by Eyevan 7285 $380 $251 Brown 771 Sunglasses by Eyevan 7285 $500 $245 Fukui Prefecture lies on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the central area of Japan's main island one of Japan's three major washi varieties and it's drawn a group of next-generation designers eager to respect tradition while adding value to new items learn how tradition is leveraged to shape a creative region and join us on a design hunt in Fukui Prefecture regional designs in Japan's Fukui Prefecture This region is known for its local eyewear industry While this town has made urushi lacquerware and washi paper for centuries One key figure in innovating local manufacturing and Fukui designs is Niiyama Naohiro His focus on creativity and craftsmanship has put him in the spotlight he'll be giving us a tour of Fukui's ever-evolving arts I just arrived in this middle part of prefecture called Sabae city let's find out what kind of design we found out today It's home to several urushi lacquerware workshops Niiyama is from Osaka and heads a regionally focused creative studio of designers many of whom also come from outside of Fukui taking on everything from graphics for local brands to designs that highlight Fukui culture and skills they renovated their office into a small complex and other spaces for visitors to experience Fukui design There are seven local industries in a 10km radius around Sabae The region is known for this unusual diversity I hear Shaula is visiting the workshop where these accessories are made I've never seen glasses on the mountain before Sabae is one of the three biggest eyewear producing regions in the world Over 96% of Japanese frames are made in Fukui I'm visiting a manufacturer that has operated here for three generations The company lets you combine different frame colors and sizes.. ...and also makes other accessories and items using the same materials Niiyama's group proposed making accessories out of the waste material Decades of experience making glasses helped the firm expand to accessories They were even able to use the same machinery Niiyama is showing me the very first product line he designed from the concept to the shop shelves Niiyama studied architecture in university staying for a month to create an artwork from local materials He was drawn to its manufacturing community But despite the artisans' incredible skills Niiyama says this region was once home to many urushi resin tappers They would travel to distant mountains to find urushi An old shrine sits nestled in the mountains here The area has produced washi paper for centuries Two people take turns tipping a wooden frame into a rippling pool of paper fibers The region makes the huge sheets of washi used in sliding screens Fukui's high quality traditional Echizen washi is over 1,500 years old It's produced more than any other kind of washi and continues to rely on traditional techniques So the workshop turned to waste fruit and vegetables as a way to bring local washi into the future The idea actually came from Igarashi's son he spent five years researching ways to make paper from food He'd use all sorts of things for his experiments She arranged to pick up offcuts from a factory that prepares pre-sliced vegetables Igarashi took up the mantle and used her son's research to increase durability and develop usable products the produce is mixed into the base ingredients for washi traditional techniques are used to create this new paper by hand A wonderful project from a family of washi makers This new paper is green in every sense of the word Our next stop is a workshop that makes Echizen lacquerware This workshop has been in business for 90 years The workshop repairs and makes industrial lacquerware such as trays and serving boxes I'm the 3rd-generation head of this workshop I've been doing this every day for 50 years Niiyama wants to promote the passion of the local artisans He's been holding industry tourism events since 2015 opening workshops to the public so they can see their work and buy their wares the three-day event draws over 30,000 visitors a new project was launched to update Fukui's traditional arts and crafts Niiyama matched seven local artisans with seven non-Fukui designers to come up with new products together The concept was everyday items for modern life These products were born out of a reimagining of Echizen lacquerware They were made by a fourth-generation lacquer workshop in Sabae Echizen lacquerware has always adopted new techniques The region made an early shift to using plastics and paints But the key step in ensuring a perfect finish is the polishing stage Their latest product draws on decades of expertise They updated their designs with designer Ishigami Ryoichi Their usual woodworking partner assembles the complex parts A hint of color that showcases the woodgrain and three colors that fit together perfectly The eyewear brand "YUICHI TOYAMA" produces a large number of exquisite glasses with an exceptional sense of style and precise calculation YUICHI TOYAMA has now launched its premium series "YUICHI TOYAMA:5" The octagonal shape of the "TOKYO" model has gentle curves that make it easy to fit in with the face the brand's unique design has been elaborated in each part KYOTO" on the other hand has a rounded Boston shape This premium series started when the designer Every part of the frames and even the screws are original backed up by Sabae's tradition and history is fully demonstrated in these truly ultimate eyewear products including a card-shaped wrench and a cloth is included to immediately address any dirt on the frames or loosening of the temples The craftsmanship of eyewear designers and skilled craftsmen breathes life into these functional beauties This is a universal pair of eyewear that will grow with the wearer and the wrinkles that are etched into the eyes By Kaoru Hashino / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Fukui — When university students called out “Don’t touch your eyes with dirty hands” and “Eat carrots since they are good for your eyes,” about 50 children aged 3 to 5 responded with a cheerful “OK!” An online seminar was held at Shinmei Kindergarten in Sabae as students from the Niigata University of Health and Welfare talked to children about how to protect their eyesight The seminar is part of a city government project The goal is to strengthen children’s vision “Sabae is known for its glasses,” said Toyoko Hasegawa if the children can be educated early on to take care of their eyes and then end up not needing glasses The children also played a card game said to have a positive effect on children’s eyes The cards depict the city’s mascot character Sabanyan with slightly different facial expressions The object of the game is to match up identical cards The city government said it is a good way to train the children to carefully distinguish among the facial expressions of the characters Eyeglasses manufacturers in the city produce light and strong titanium frames for spectacles which are highly regarded in the world market and the city government has long promoted itself as a glasses town The city government hopes the project will have a positive impact “This will all lead to the development of new lenses and new industrial fields in the future,” said a city official Poor vision among children has become a serious problem in Japan and one in two junior high school students have poor vision according to the 2019 School Health Statistics Research conducted by the Education If a vision test catches a problem early on in a child then wearing glasses may help lead the child to eventually not need glasses Improving vision tests will also help enhance research to determine what effect the use of smartphones and tablets has on the eyes Yokohama eyewear shop that mainly sells vintage eyewear from overseas, as well as special order models only available here.Nice glasses, MICHIO.And he has a variety of titles, including creative director, music producer, DJ, and writer.Shinya ShojiThree The eyewear label "Issun Ichiritsu" has now been launched by these two companies The label offers products that can be used for a variety of purposes in addition to their original purpose of correcting vision and preventing glare The commemorative first lineup features a model handmade in Sabae and the frames are designed in the Wellington shape often seen in American-made eyewear of the 1960s The design is said to have been inspired by the eyewear worn by a certain Jewish actor and director The orthodox inverted trapezoidal shape alone seems to fit in with a wide range of users Shoji plans to release new products focusing on the chic people around him so please experience the comfort of its products first hand If you're wearing eyeglasses in Japan there's a good chance they came from a small city in Fukui prefecture Sabae is one of the country's major producers of eyeglass frames But it needs more young people to come learn the craft Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Today's print edition Home Delivery If you went to this past weekend's Maker Faire at Tokyo Big Sight chances are that all the new ideas — both innovative and kooky — have sparked your own creativity since there are three upcoming design competitions that are not only free to enter but will also turn winning ideas into marketable products Sabae city's smooth movegoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); is looking for designs that will help modernize and popularize traditional Japanese lacquerware This isn't about simply designing an attractive cup or bowl — entrants are encouraged to think "outside the vessel" as well as consider using glass 23 to enter and all finalists will be featured in a "Kawada Lifestyle Festival" exhibition in Sabae on Sept with the grand prize being ¥100,000 and an invite to work alongside the craftspeople creating the masterpiece Organized by the city of Sabae in Fukui Prefecture whose Kawada district is known for lacquerware this competition aims to promote the craft overseas — so winners can also expect the production process of their work to be filmed and uploaded online for posterity sabae-urushi.com/en Newsed Upcycle Design Award 2014 Grand Prize-winner Ken Watanabe's melamine buttons made from furniture veneer offcuts Newsed — an upcycling brand of six design partners led by design unit Minna — is calling for entries for its annual award Newsed's brightly colored recycled acrylic badges and car-seat-belt bow ties have already proved popular at museum shops and select stores and this competition is one way the brand expands its unusual collection Newsed is looking for novelty as well as functionality You'll realize this when you see the weird materials you're asked to work with: old car seat belts and airbags; scraps of leather; sample denim swatches chopsticks and glasses frames; even crumpled sheets of paper used to filter lacquer Aside from drawing from this unconventional list just about anything goes design-wise — there are no restrictions on genre and each applicant can submit two ideas Last year's grand prize winner was simple but smart — Ken Watanable's buttons made from furniture veneer offcuts but the real prize is seeing your product actualized and then sold at a pop-up store early next year with the winner announcements and store scheduled for January next year newsed.jp/award (Japanese only) Aki Inomata grand prize winner of the YouFab Global Creative Awards 2015 created a 'shelter' for hermit crabs the YouFab Global Creative Awards 2015 looks to the multifarious future of digital fabrication the competition categories range from art and products to machinery CNC milling machine or laser cutter is involved There's even a "beyond" section for uncategorizable submissions Last year's grand prize winner exemplifies how far out you can get: Aki Inomata created a "shelter" for hermit crabs — an acrylic miniaturized city that sits on the back of the crab's shell YouFab Global Creative Awards is collecting submissions until Sept winners will be announced in early December and the exhibition will be in January The grand prize is $1,000 and an aptly funky trophy designed by Kohei Nawa www.youfab.info/2015 In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Fukui -- One minute they're curling their fluffy tails and looking dreamy in the sunlight next they're whirling around and deftly scampering over the ladders and bridges set up in high spots They have a sweetness you never get tired of watching and there are currently 11 of them at Nishiyama Zoo in Sabae With one of the foremost breeding programs in the country The word panda brings to mind giant pandas with their memorable contrast of white and black on round bodies red pandas "came first." They were seen in the interior of Nepal at the beginning of the 19th century and were introduced by the name panda in an essay in 1825 There are different theories about the origin of the name but it appears to be based on the local language the existence of giant pandas came to be known to the wider world and the word lesser was added to the name of their "predecessors." Both animals are related to such carnivores as bears Nishiyama Zoo is located in a corner of Nishiyama Park It was established by the city for three red pandas that were sent as a gift from China to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the municipality in 1985 Nishiyama Zoo is one the smallest zoos in Japan was reassigned from the city's construction department and put in charge of the animals' care The Hokuriku region is not suited in general to zoos there are many animals that are difficult to keep there Red pandas also have difficulty with summer heat and they're particular about what kind of bamboo they like calling on zoos around the nation for help which was not as common then as it is today This angered a municipal assembly member who came to observe the facility -- "What is this giving air conditioning to pandas?" the member said Ibe found that the red pandas liked madake bamboo that grows near the Echizen coast but it took advantage of its mountainside location and created a living environment similar to the animals' natural habitat living in trees at high elevation with a wonderful view They also removed such barriers as fences and cages to the greatest extent possible so that the animals could be viewed up close two females from among the first three animals both gave birth to twins This drew attention from people involved with zoos around the world the first grandchild of red pandas in Japan was born a total of eight generations and 61 red pandas had been born "I still don't know if our way of doing things was the best," said Ibe with a mixture of humility and pride The zoo was eventually expanded and today houses about 60 animals from 12 species including Japanese cranes and white-handed gibbons To raise money for such purposes as construction of the "Red panda house," which was completed in March 2016 the city launched a crowdfunding campaign on the internet became a fan about eight years ago through her hobby of photography Shima visits zoos around the country to take pictures of them poses and the like -- they look adorable no matter who photographs them There's no other subject like them," she said so close we can hear the crunch of them biting into the apples they like." came to Sabae from Shiga Prefecture in August last year when her husband was transferred It's become a daily routine for Tanabe and her 3-year-old daughter Yua to have a bento in the park and visit the red pandas "It's a unique version of 'at home.' I'm glad it's free," she said They don't have the presence of giant pandas but they're certainly giving someone quiet happiness today Nishiyama Zoo is about a five-minute walk from Nishiyama Koen Station on Fukui Railway's Fukubu Line was developed from the Kyoyokei gardens created in the late Edo period (1603-1867) Visitors can enjoy features of each of the four seasons Admission to the zoo is free; call (0778) 52-2737 for more information Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/ Apps that can fully enjoy "other company's keyboard" and "widget" that are now available for iOS 8 collectively Review I tested how powerful "modcrew" can be waterproofed to iPhone in a few hours Nov 16, 2014 21:15:00 in Coverage