Opticians in Japan

POSTED BY DANNY CHOO On Wed 2009/07/08 14:06 JST in Living in Japan Guide
Folks on hols in Japan or who have just relocated may be wondering about 2 things:-
1.What is the purpose of the table with the water tub placed outside opticians.
2.Why does everybody who works at an optician wear glasses.
Have a gander at the photo. You can some sort of water container placed to the left of the table with a box of tissues. This is not so that you can whip out your dolphin (which likes occasional dips in water) and engage in health care - wiping off with the box of tissues.
The tub of water is for folks to wash their glasses and does so with ultrasound (source). You don't have to pay or feel obliged to buy anything.
Just stop by and dip your glasses in the tub for a few seconds and wipe off with the tissue - wipe your glasses I mean.
Unlike some shop assistants that I've seen in Malaysia who leech on to you, you will rarely be bothered by shop assistants when you use the ultrasound tub.
As for the second mystery about shop assistants at an optician wearing glasses - an interview with the optician store Megane Drug tells how they get all employees to wear glasses - regardless of whether they have 20/20 vision. They do it so that they can relate to the customer feelings of wearing glasses.
Bae Yong Joon is regularly appears for a brand called Megane Shijo - CM below.