Changing perceptions: Japanese schools embrace sunglasses beyond fashion
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- As strong August sunlight beat down outside, seven students at a private girls' secondary school in Tokyo gathered around a classroo
In Japan, sunglasses are often viewed as a fashion statement rather than a means of protecting the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. However, a private girls' secondary school in Tokyo is challenging this perception by allowing students to wear specially designed sunglasses as part of their uniform. The school, Joshi Seigakuin Junior & Senior High School, became the first junior or senior high school in Japan to officially permit students to wear approved sunglasses in October 2025.
The initiative is a joint effort between the school, an eyewear brand, and an industry-school project focused on eye health. The students participating in the project, many of whom have undergone eye surgery, aim to make eye protection a more routine part of school life. However, changing perceptions about sunglasses in Japan remains a significant hurdle.
Despite the growing risk of eye damage from increased UV exposure, the use of sunglasses among Japanese students aged 6 to 17 remains low at 15.8 percent. The school's effort to promote sunglasses aligns with a broader company initiative to promote eye health, with inquiries about allowing students to wear sunglasses at school increasing since the initiative began. The goal is to expand this project to 4,000 schools by 2030.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
