This week's Japanese international optical fair boasted an increase in overseas exhibitors of 70 per cent, writes Bill Harvey from Tokyo.
This week's Japanese international optical fair boasted an increase in overseas exhibitors of 70 per cent, writes Bill Harvey from Tokyo.The 18th International Optical Fair Tokyo (IOFT), held at the Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Arena, saw 400 exhibitors from 20 countries represented at the show. The fair attracted 16,000 visitors, around 1,000 of whom were from outside Japan.
An increasing demand for fashionable eyewear has driven interest in overseas brands, not least from Europe, hence the increase in overseas exhibitors.
Continental brands such as Menrad, Derome & Brenner, Vidivici Italia and OPO AB Sweden vied for attention with the more familiar Japanese big names like Seiko, Hoya, Nikon and De Rigo Japan.
Though primarily an event for fashion frame buyers and, to a lesser extent, lenses, instrumentation and equipment was also represented by the likes of Nidek, Topcon and Shin-Nippon.
Takeshi Abe, managing director of top Tokyo boutique Loyd, said: 'I used to go to Mido and Silmo to look for brands you couldn't find in Japan. Now I only go to IOFT because if a company has the potential to sell in Japan it will be at IOFT in no time.'
Conversely, Perola Sternqvist of OPO AB explained that a move to exhibit at IOFT for the first time was an essential part in the company's attempt to 'reach the Asian consumer'.
Organisers expect on-site orders to exceed last year's hefty total of around 30m, as the event is established as the main annual event for buyers from Japan and Asia, including wholesalers, distributors, chain stores and independent retailers.
The event also included the popular Best Dressed Eyes Awards which are presented to the year's most famous spectacle-wearing celebrities.
This year, Japanese foreign minister Nobutaka Machimura won the politics category, while the business category was won by the chairman of Fuji Television Hisashi Hie. Satoshi Terao, star of such renowned classics as the Kurasowa King Lear-influenced film Ran, won the sunglasses award.
The Eyewear of the Year Awards, presented to the products judged to be the best in categories such as men's, ladies', sporty casual, trendy and function and technology, this year included a number of European frames such as the Nico-Design Derapage Spoiler and the ic! Berlin Clara.
By the end of the three-day event, organisers claimed it achieved the best-ever participation of overseas companies from Europe and the US, with record number of exhibitors and visitors.