Photo/Illutration Students at Joshi Seigakuin High School in Tokyo’s Kita Ward wear lightly tinted sunglasses, which will be part of the school’s official uniform. (Hiraku Higa)

Shedding their traditional image as accessories for gangsters and movie stars, sunglasses will be part of the uniform at a Tokyo girls’ school amid growing concerns about exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Starting in the 2027 academic year, Joshi Seigakuin Junior and Senior High School in Tokyo’s Kita Ward will include sunglasses in its dress code to protect students’ eyes from intensifying sunlight.

“In the past, sunglasses were seen as rebellious or flashy,” said Naoki Okamura, a 56-year-old teacher leading the initiative. “Now, the focus is on protecting students’ eyes.”

Okamura, an avid cyclist, began noticing stronger sunlight in recent years. After he recommended sunglasses to his colleagues, they reported feeling less fatigued.

This positive feedback prompted the school to explore integrating sunglasses into the uniform. A trial run in July saw 50 students wearing sunglasses during school hours.

One 17-year-old student said she regularly wears sunglasses during her free time due to her sensitivity to glare.

“Being able to wear them during my commute is great, and I feel less tired,” she said.

Her sunglasses feature light gray lenses, resembling regular eyeglasses.

To maintain eye contact in conversations, the school will approve only lenses with lighter tints.

In collaboration with major eyewear retailer Zoff, the school is developing designs that complement the uniform. Students will be able to purchase them as optional school supplies.

Similar efforts to promote or permit sunglasses are appearing beyond the education sector, including at police departments and railway companies.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, UV radiation levels increased by 13.2 percent over the past 35 years at an observation site in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The number of days with a UV index of 8 or higher--considered hazardous by the Environment Ministry--has more than doubled during that period, reaching 63 last year.

JMA experts attribute this rise partly to cleaner air resulting from diesel vehicle regulations. With fewer airborne particles to reflect UV rays, more sunlight reaches the ground.

Naoki Yamamoto, a molecular biologist and special professor at Fujita Health University, warns that UV exposure through the eyes can disrupt the autonomic nervous system and contribute to fatigue.

He also notes that accumulated damage to ocular cells may accelerate the onset of cataracts.

“Preventive measures from early childhood are key,” Yamamoto emphasized.

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