MILAN — Japan is getting an additional dose of attention with Expo 2025, inaugurated in Osaka on April 13 and running until Oct. 13. The event coincides with EssilorLuxottica marking 35 years of its presence and partnerships in Japan.

Davide Schinetti, chief operating officer of EssilorLuxottica, said the company has long recognized the value of “the meticulous attention to detail, quality and service of Made in Japan” and has made a series of strategic investments in the country.

These include the acquisition of a key eyewear manufacturer in the Prefecture of Fukui, a district that specializes in eyewear production, first collaborating with its supplier Fukui Megane in 2010, then starting to buy shares in the company in 2018, and finally acquiring 100 percent of it in 2023. Today the facility counts 320 employees, which has doubled since 2021.

“This has an important strategic value as it establishes the group’s entry into the production heart of made in Japan,” said Schinetti, noting that the plant was entirely renovated starting in 2020 “with a new concept that combining traditional Japanese style and innovation.” The plant works mainly with titanium and acetate, he explained.

Production and development are local with a strong collaborative exchange with Italy and Schinetti characterized the exchange with EssilorLuxottica’s artisans in Agordo as “very fruitful. New prototypes in Fukui are made by the design center by artisans that have an experience spanning more than three decades, who are training new young talents, working on chiselling titanium and other precious materials. Artisans from Japan also travel to Agordo and Cadore, in northeast Italy, for an exchange of cultural experiences. We understand that the true spirit of Made in Japan cannot be replicated or bought; it lies in the history and traditions that have shaped Japanese artistry over the centuries. The company’s immersion in Japan is a recognition of the value of its human capital, expertise, patents and unique technologies that drive the creation of eyewear.”

Last year EssilorLuxottica also bought the Washin retail chain, which has 70 points of sale and was key in further cementing the company’s presence in Japan and expanding its network of banners.

Schinetti enthused about Japan’s growing cultural influence and “stimulating trends that can be also exported outside that country.” He said that some Oakley collections of apparel, footwear and accessories were designed in Japan over the past few years.

Japan, like Italy, he continued, “is renowned for its rich heritage of craftsmanship, where technology, culture and artistry come together, and the two countries share the same values and love for beauty in a  long-term commitment for excellence and product quality.”

In 2020, EssilorLuxottica also launched the Nami brand that is made in Japan and aimed at that market. Over the years, certain models and collections have specifically been manufactured in Japan for a global audience, under various brands such as Oliver Peoples and Prada.

“Oliver Peoples is one of the brands in our portfolio with a deep and enduring connection to the Japanese art of eyewear — a partnership that began with the brand’s founding in 1987,” said Francesco Arcuri, EssilorLuxottica’s general manager for Japan. “Today, our Japan-made styles are meticulously crafted at the renowned Fukui Megane factory, where precision, tradition and innovation converge. This center of excellence produces exceptional frames not only for Oliver Peoples, but also for prestigious brands such as Prada and Giorgio Armani. Made in Japan eyewear represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship, with every titanium and acetate design reflecting unmatched artistry and attention to detail. Fukui is where Japanese mastery meets global design sophistication.”

Schinetti said that another “fundamental experience on the lenses side” in the history of the group was Essilor’s joint venture with Nikon, established in the 1990s.

EssilorLuxottica’s revenues in 2024 were up 4.4 percent to 26.5 billion euros, compared with 25.4 billion euros in 2023.

While Asia-Pacific sales amounted to 3.24 billion euros, the group does not break down revenues for Japan alone. Sources estimate the country accounted for around 2 percent of total sales last year.