Last weekend’s Mainichi morning edition reported MEXT school health statistics: “65% of high schoolers below 1.0 vision — worst on record; smartphones suspected.” Worst since tracking began in FY1979; elementary and junior high also second-worst, high schoolers up 10 points in three years.
Another survey found over 50% of people in their 20s–40s below 0.4. We live in an age of intense eye strain.
In junior high I noticed the blackboard hard to read, moved seat by seat forward — glasses followed decades ago. TV was blamed then; manga too — read secretly under the covers. Parents rarely blame TV now; MEXT cites digital devices, especially smartphones and handheld games in dark rooms until sleep.
Below 1.0: high school 65%, kindergarten 24%, elementary 30%, junior high 52%.
Adults? Softbrain Field and Saison’s “Receipt Savings” survey of ages 20–70+ in November:
＝graph upper. At 1.0 or better: 20s 24%, 30s 22%, 40s 24%, 50s 17%, 60s 17%, 70+ 21%. Inverting MEXT’s question, 20s–40s about 77% below 1.0; 50s–60s about 83% — age adds effect.
Overall 50% below 0.4. By age: 20s 52%, 30s 55%, 40s 50% — over half for PC/game generations. 50s 47%, 60s 36%, 70+ 30% — digital influence hard to deny.
Lifestyle survey ＝graph lower: “long PC use” even among 70+ was 66%. “Watch TV often” about 60% all ages. “Play games often” highest in 20s at 24%.