When I was in junior high school, my eyesight deteriorated and I continued to wear the glasses my parents bought me without question. The turning point came when I was in high school. For the first time, I bought a pair of glasses based on my own preferences. The color is simple brown, with a double bridge and sunglasses clip-on. I still vividly remember how my mood suddenly brightened up the moment I put it on. I found it interesting that a pair of glasses can change not only the way you look but also your mood. And I found my self following the social media accounts of well-known eyewear shops and brands. I became an “eyewear enthusiasts” who keep up with the scene. When I was a student, I worked part-time at a local optician in my hometown of Hiroshima.
Around that time, my mother, who knew my love for eyewear, told me that GLOBE SPECS would be featured on the NHK program “The World is Full of Things I Want.” The content of the program is a close look at representative Okada’s business trip to Paris. I was thirilled to see Okada seemed to be enjoying the treasure hunt during the trip. Since then, the more I have learned about GLOBE SPECS, the more special it has become to me. And in 2021, I visited the Kyoto store during my university holidays. Mod. Diana from AHLEM I had purchased became one of my most memorable pieces, and my desire to work at GLOBE SPECS and to see eyewear from around the world grew stronger, so I decided to get a job.

I joined the company as a new graduate in 2023. And when I was asked about my “objective” after joining the company during my recruitment interview, I told him of my desire to “accompany President Okada on his overseas purchases!”. This happened in less than a year. In February 2024, I was able to accompany my self on a business trip to MIDO, an international eyewear exhibition in Milan, Italy. I guess it is part of GLOBE SPECS’ corporate culture to provide opportunities for those who are willing to gain such experience, regardless of their year of employment. What impressed me most at MIDO were the conversations between Okada and eyewear designers from around the world. “My new collection has been completed. Let me know your opinion!” “What do you think of this material?” Okada replies to various questions, and the designers listen attentively to every word. I felt a strange sense of elation at these sights. I felt proud that Okada was at the center of the world’s eyewear trends, and I had a strong ambition to be like himsomeday.

After joining the company, you will receive orienteering directly from Okada, and　you will learn about eyeglass fitting from senior employees during the job. There is an atmosphere within the company where you can ask for advice at any time if you have any problems, and I think that’s why I was able to acquire knowledge and techniques regarding eyewear smoothly. GLOBE SPECS has a reputation for offering the best style that suits each customer from a wide range of items. For example, if a customer comes to the shop with a brand of frames that he or she has ‘longed for’ in advance, we try to explain the appeal of that brand in more depth. While talking with the customer about the designer and the brand story, we also suggest other frames from the same brand based on their wishes. This is because we want to find a piece that truly looks attractive to our customers and exceeds their “aspirations” when they visit our store.
On my days off, I read books at cafes around Kyoto and study English… Kyoto is a city with a lot of foreign tourists, so I listen to foreign languages and check the fashion of people who wear eyewear well. GLOBE SPECS is the closest place to the global eyewear scene. After gaining experience here, I would like to visit the eyewear trade fair “SILMO” that will be held in Paris next time. That’s my objective. No, I guess this is also an aspiration (lol).