One optician disappears every day. Stop the decline... MegaLog," the industry's first optician comparison platform, is under development. 　Scheduled to go live at the end of 2026.

There used to be 15,000 small, medium, and micro opticians in Japan, but now there are less than 4,000, and they are disappearing at the rate of one per day. In response to this "quiet crisis," Jiro Ito (President of ojim Co., Ltd.), an optician in Musashino City, Tokyo, has started developing "MegaLog," the industry's first* platform to fairly introduce both large and small opticians. It is scheduled to be released at the end of 2026.

Based on in-house research. As of May 2026.

One store a day disappears - a "quiet crisis" for opticians

Japan's opticians have served as an infrastructure that supports the visual lifestyles of local communities.

However, according to industry data from lens manufacturers, the number of small and medium-sized micro- and micro-optic stores has declined significantly from its peak of about 15,000, and has now shrunk to less than 4,000.

Behind this is a complex set of factors, including the following.

Oligopoly by four major companies (JINS, Zoff, Megane Ichiba, and OWNDAYS) with a 60-80% market share

Intensifying price competition

Shortage of technicians

Lack of skilled staff ・Succession problems for local stores

If this trend continues, the number of opticians will continue to decline, creating a void of opticians, especially in the rural areas, resulting in

Decline in the quality of life of the people → Decline in labor productivity → Decline in national power

Ito argues that this will result in an acceleration of social losses, such as a decline in the quality of life of the people, a decrease in labor productivity, and a decline in national power.

What is MegaLog, the industry's first "Optician's Road Map"?

MegaLog is the industry's first "guide to opticians" = MegaLog.

Price stores that focus on price

Concept stores that focus on fashion

Vision-care stores that focus on visual function

High-end stores that focus on luxury

MegaLog is a platform that correctly visualizes opticians according to their values, such as

Optician categorization MAP

Sei-katsu-sha will be able to choose stores according to their own needs, and opticians will be able to correctly communicate their own philosophy, technology, and strengths.

We are moving from an era in which people choose opticians based on price alone to an era in which people choose opticians based on value. MegaLog aims to be the turning point.

Why is MegaLog needed now?

In today's Japan, consumers have little understanding of what kind of philosophy and skills opticians have.

As a result, a biased selection structure has been created in which "all the stores are price stores".

The MegaLog is a "price shop",

Philosophy of the store

Qualifications of technicians

Inspection facilities

Price range

Specialties

Price range, specialty, product assortment

We support consumers in making the "right choice" by visualizing the following information.

Recruitment of Megarog participating stores

MegaLog is currently accepting applications from eyewear stores nationwide for participation, with the aim of officially opening the site to the public by the end of 2026.

Merits of Participation

The MegaLog will be open to all opticians nationwide, with the aim of officially opening it to the public by the end of 2026.

Responding to an era in which consumers choose by "value

Networking among vision care stores

Support for attracting customers through local search and comparison functions

Participation in projects of social significance

Participation in projects of social significance

Must be an optician operating in Japan.

Stores that agree with the philosophy of MegaLog (fairness, transparency, coexistence and co-prosperity).

We do not respond to requests to restrict the participation of other stores.

MegaLog is a platform that aims to provide a fair lineup for all opticians. Therefore, we cannot respond to requests for exclusivity.

[Participation fee

Beta version period: Initial participating stores will be free of both admission and usage fees "forever".

Initial participating stores are limited to those that agree with the MegaLog philosophy (fairness, transparency, and coexistence and co-prosperity).

After the official launch: We plan to offer a fee structure for each publication plan.

MegaLog will be operated on an ad space basis, providing a long-term, secure environment for all initial participating stores.

How to apply

Please contact the following e-mail address with a request for MegaLog materials.

The person in charge will send you a registration form and materials.

→ opteria-glassias@nifty.com

We welcome media coverage of our development process.

MegaLog will be open to the public by the end of 2026,

UI/UX design

Store database construction

Recruitment of participating stores

Beta testing

The development process itself has social significance.

Since the development process itself has social significance, we are willing to accept TV, newspaper, and web media coverage of the project.

Profile of the initiators

Jiro Ito, promoter

Jiro Ito

Jiro Ito is the president of OJIM Ltd.

Jiro Ito is the owner of "Opteria Gracias" in Musashino-shi, Tokyo.

For more than 20 years, he has been involved in the measurement of binocular function and proper sales of eyeglasses, and has been communicating the importance of "opticians who protect the quality of visual life".

In recent years, he has been advocating the RTM method of eyeglass adjustment and proposing how opticians should satisfy their customers.

In response to the accelerating closure of opticians, he launched "MegaLog," the industry's first optician comparison platform, in 2026.

He is the author of the book "Megane as Culture (Yugeisha)".

Comment from Jiro Ito (founder of MegaLog)

An optician is not just a retailer. They are "lifestyle infrastructure" that supports people's lives and influences their quality of life. We cannot stand idly by and watch their lights go out. MegaLog is the first step toward creating a society in which the value of opticians is properly communicated and consumers can choose the opticians that suit them best.

■ Future Schedule

May 2026- Start of development / Recruitment of participating stores

Summer 2026 Start of beta testing

Fall 2026 Release of participating stores and UI announcement

End of 2026 MegaLog officially released

Company Profile／Ojim Limited

Location: 1-11-21 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo

Representative ： Jiro Ito, Representative Director

Establishment ： 2004

URL ： https://opteria-glassias.jp/

Business description: Eyeglass retailer / Frame design planning wholesaler / Regional development, small and medium-sized micro- and micro- glasses retailer

　　　　　 Lecturer at seminars on regional development and awareness raising for small and medium-sized opticians