Japanese convenience store sunglasses just became our newest Convenience Wear obsession

Family Mart has an “it’ll do” pair of sunglasses that might become your favourite pair.

Sunglasses can be a bit of a hot-button topic amongst tourists visiting Japan, as they’re not commonly worn here due to their association with the yakuza. However, as Japan’s summers become increasingly hot and intense, attitudes towards sunglasses appear to be shifting. In the last couple of years, some prefectural police departments have started allowing officers to wear sunglasses while on outdoor duty (previously only officers on motorcycles and boats were encouraged to wear shades) and more and more stores are now selling them, including convenience store chain Family Mart.

Introduced this summer as part of the chain’s hugely popular Convenience Wear line, the new sunglasses retail for 2,490 yen (US$16.50), making them an affordable purchase when you’re out and in a pinch.

That’s what happened to our reporter Takashi Harada recently, who spotted the sunglasses at Family Mart on such a bright day that he decided right then and there that they would be worth the investment.

▼ The Family Mart sunglasses are unisex, with polarised lenses and UV protection.

▼ Most importantly, the lenses aren’t particularly dark.

In Japan, dark lenses are said to give off “iatsukan” (“intimidating presence”) vibes, which is one of the reasons they’re so stigmatised. That’s the reason why a lot of people who do wear sunglasses in Japan prefer lighter lenses that allow others to still see their eyes.

It was as if Family Mart knew exactly what would resonate with local customers, and although Takashi initially bought a pair as an “it’ll do” type of purchase, they ended up becoming his favourite pair.

As soon as he put them on, he was impressed by how well they fit. One of his pet gripes with glasses is how they can sometimes feel excessively tight on the temples and behind the ears, but these slid on like they’d been designed specifically for his face.

▼ The tiny Family Mart design details are another nice touch.

The lenses also suited him – although they have a Visible Light Transmittance of 30 percent, he had no complaints. Sure, they didn’t completely block the glare when the sun shone directly into his eyes, but they did a good job of reducing the sunlight for his purposes, which was taking a stroll outdoors.

▼ As long as you’re not staring straight into the sun, these do the job nicely.

What he liked most about the sunglasses, though, was how he didn’t have to worry about the way he handled them. He does own a pair of sunglasses that cost significantly more, but whenever he uses them he has to take a lot more care not to scratch them or drop them. At 2,490 yen, the Family Mart sunglasses aren’t quite as precious, so he now finds himself reaching for these a lot more often than he does his regular pair.

Family Mart actually sells two types of sunglasses – the Square style, which he purchased, and the Wellington style, which was released last year and has since sold a total of around 40,000 units. There are also brown lenses in addition to black, but they weren’t in stock at the store he visited, perhaps because of their popularity.

With shops like Uniqlo and Muji now selling sunglasses for less than 2,000 yen, Family Mart’s isn’t necessarily the cheapest option, but they do the job nicely, while looking stylish as well. Plus, there’s something special about being able to walk around with a pair of convenience store sunglasses on your face, elevating them from an “it’ll do” pair to what might just become your favourite sunglasses.

Photos ©SoraNews24
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