“METRONOME®” is a brand founded by designer BISEI IWAMOTO.
In 2014, while living the life of a designer and stylist in Japan, Iwamoto experienced a traffic accident that caused serious damage to his left hand. Around the same time, he was betrayed by his friend and business partner, who embezzled their company’s money, which left Iwamoto with no choice but to clear all their debts leaving him penniless.
Iwamoto found himself working in a factory in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, as an eyewear sample creation technician, and it was during this time that he became known for his work, however the damage to his left hand became a hindrance and resulted in Iwamoto suffering from depression.
While overcoming his difficulties, Iwamoto reflected on his lack of opportunities to travel the world and decided to pool all his savings and embark on a journey that saw him visit countries in Asia, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia; followed by India, New York, then Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.
At that time, especially while travelling around Asia Iwamoto realised that:
“The Japanese technical skills of past generations was being lost due to the lack of interest by young Japanese people, therefore would it not be beneficial to educate others on the skills of Japanese eyewear, especially to those countries whose production levels were rising?”
After returning home from his travels, Iwamoto gathered volunteers, raised funds and built factories in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, where he dispatched a Japanese engineer who began teaching Japanese technology, and at the beginning of 2016 a glasses factory in Vietnam started it first production.
One day, while drinking with a musician friend, he was told:
“Why don’t you try producing your own brand again? You should make an album of glasses like a musician makes an album of music. Your work is as the designer, you are too skilled to be making glasses for someone else!”
From this conversation, Iwamoto began to develop his brand “METRONOME®”
Every eyewear collection should have a story like a music album, and each design created should be accompanied with a title and narrative, similar to the lyrics of a song. There should be a key and a tempo, with the key ranging from A to G, and the tempo from 42 to 200.
The origin of the name came from an acoustic guitar and an old metronome that he had taken on his trip for the rehabilitation of his hand. While Iwamoto had to purchase a new guitar many times while travelling, the Japanese made metronome never failed and kept its tempo constantly.
Iwamoto was inspired by the accurate and sturdiness of the Japanese made metronome,
hence “METRONOME®” was born.
MADE IN WORLD,
MADE BY JAPAN,
FOR THE WORLD.
“Hesitation and courage are similar.
The first step is fine, even a half step.”
Iwamoto found himself working in a factory in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, as an eyewear sample creation technician, and it was during this time that he became known for his work, however the damage to his left hand became a hindrance and resulted in Iwamoto suffering from depression.
While overcoming his difficulties, Iwamoto reflected on his lack of opportunities to travel the world and decided to pool all his savings and embark on a journey that saw him visit countries in Asia, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia; followed by India, New York, then Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.
At that time, especially while travelling around Asia Iwamoto realised that:
“The Japanese technical skills of past generations was being lost due to the lack of interest by young Japanese people, therefore would it not be beneficial to educate others on the skills of Japanese eyewear, especially to those countries whose production levels were rising?”
After returning home from his travels, Iwamoto gathered volunteers, raised funds and built factories in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, where he dispatched a Japanese engineer who began teaching Japanese technology, and at the beginning of 2016 a glasses factory in Vietnam started it first production.
One day, while drinking with a musician friend, he was told:
“Why don’t you try producing your own brand again? You should make an album of glasses like a musician makes an album of music. Your work is as the designer, you are too skilled to be making glasses for someone else!”
From this conversation, Iwamoto began to develop his brand “METRONOME®”
Every eyewear collection should have a story like a music album, and each design created should be accompanied with a title and narrative, similar to the lyrics of a song. There should be a key and a tempo, with the key ranging from A to G, and the tempo from 42 to 200.
The origin of the name came from an acoustic guitar and an old metronome that he had taken on his trip for the rehabilitation of his hand. While Iwamoto had to purchase a new guitar many times while travelling, the Japanese made metronome never failed and kept its tempo constantly.
Iwamoto was inspired by the accurate and sturdiness of the Japanese made metronome,
hence “METRONOME®” was born.
MADE IN WORLD,
MADE BY JAPAN,
FOR THE WORLD.
“Hesitation and courage are similar.
The first step is fine, even a half step.”
