The Appeal of “YA-004,” a Masterpiece Overflowing with Artistry by Japan’s Pride, YOSHINORI AOYAMA
YOSHINORI AOYAMA is a Japanese eyewear brand launched in 2023 by designer Yoshinori Aoyama. Embracing “ambivalence”—the integration of opposing elements into a single frame—the brand creates three-dimensional titanium structures in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture.
One of the brand’s signature models is the YA-004. When a clip-on polarized lens is added to the round glasses, they transform into three-dimensional sunglasses. The design simultaneously showcases soft curves and a linear framework.
This article takes a closer look at the form, clip-on mechanism, materials, and accessories of the YA-004, accompanied by photographs.
DESIGNER
Yoshinori Aoyama’s background and international recognition.
AMBIVALENCE
The concept of uniting opposing forms in a three-dimensional titanium structure.
CLIP-ON
The mechanism that switches the YA-004 between glasses and polarized sunglasses.
◎ A Unique Aesthetic That Redefines Eyewear
The YA-004 pairs round glasses with a linear polarized lens clip.
Designer Yoshinori Aoyama honed his craft at Aoyama Goggles, a long-established family business, while developing his design sensibilities in the SSID Design Course organized by Sabae City.
He later launched FACTORY900, known for its futuristic, three-dimensional designs, and took on a wide range of responsibilities from brand management to design. At SILMO PARIS, one of the world’s largest eyewear exhibitions held in Paris, France, he received the Silmo d’Or, an award presented to outstanding eyewear. He has also won numerous design awards both in Japan and abroad.
Aoyama’s frames enhance the wearer’s features with their three-dimensional structures and bold contours. They are distinguished by combining sculpture-like forms with eyewear functionality.
The brand name is finely engraved on the temples. Rather than large embellishments, the structure itself conveys the individuality of the YA-004.
◎ A Titanium Structure That Embodies “Ambivalence”
Angular clips are layered over round rims, uniting contrasting contours in a single front view.
Since its debut in 2023, YOSHINORI AOYAMA has championed the concept of “ambivalence.” Aoyama explores opposing elements such as “imagination and destruction,” “future and past,” and “harmony and discord,” bringing them together in a single frame to present a form unlike conventional glasses.
This concept is supported by an exploration of titanium and precision metalwork. The three-dimensional structure, reminiscent of a building’s framework, is formed through a combination of fine lines and planes.
The entire manufacturing process takes place in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, one of the world’s leading eyewear production centers. Achieving the complexity of the design as a finished product requires the skill of artisans who ensure that every dimension, angle, and joint is perfectly aligned.
Between Curves and Lines
The round rims soften the area around the face. A horizontal top bar and angular temples cut across them, sharpening the overall silhouette.
◎ The YA-004 Switches Between Glasses and Sunglasses
The glasses and polarized lens clip. Choose between two ways of wearing them as needed.
At the heart of the YA-004 is a combination of the soft curves of a round shape and a linear structure. It can be worn as glasses, and attaching the included polarized lens clip transforms it into sunglasses.
The design is inspired by the structure of buildings reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The temples at both ends of the front are left open rather than filled with solid material, creating a skeletal framework. The deliberately left negative space adds depth to both the front and side views.
From the front, the bridge of the glasses and the clip overlap, completing the form as a single design. Because the sharp lines of the metal are softened by the round lenses, the distinctive structure blends easily with the wearer’s features. The compact size also ensures a comfortable fit.
2-WAY
Switch between glasses and clip-on sunglasses with a single frame.
POLARIZED
The included clip features polarized lenses that reduce glare and clarify vision.
TITANIUM
Precision titanium metalwork creates a slim, three-dimensional structure.
MADE IN SABAE
Manufactured in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, to transform complex forms into wearable products.
◎ YA-004 Details in Six Photographs
Rather than filling the temples with solid material, negative space is left open, like the framework of a building.
The warm-toned rims and rigid top bar use color to emphasize the contrast in their forms.
They reduce glare from roads and glass, easing eye strain.
The lines of the glasses and the clip overlap at the front, creating a central section with added depth.
They make it easy to adjust the fit on the nose and keep the frame securely in place.
The glasses come with an outer box reminiscent of a metal frame and a high-quality glasses case.
◎ Summary｜A Clip-On Uniting Curves, Lines, and Negative Space
The YA-004 brings together round glasses, a linear top bar, skeletal temples, and a polarized lens clip in a single design. The impression changes when the clip is removed or attached, but both reflect the brand’s “ambivalence.”
The photographs showcase not only the overall silhouette but also the overlapping bridges, the contrast between rose gold and black, and the precision of the joints. The three-dimensional structure becomes increasingly apparent as the viewing angle changes from the front to the side.
View YOSHINORI AOYAMA Products
View the YOSHINORI AOYAMA collection available at DOWNTOWN, along with product photographs.