The light is more diffused or softer here than in many other countries. Could be photochemical smog or the humidity. I definately need sunglasses while driving in summer in Canada, but not in Japan unless directly facing the sun.
In Japan, I just wear them on the beach or tennis court. Never in town.
In Japan, they often associate sunglasses with suspicious activity and suspicious people. Just take a look at a few Yak movies and you'll get the idea. It's the same with tattoos, they're stigmatized even though they shouldn't be. Sunglasses are essential during hot and sunny days, especially for those in vehicles where you're not protected from the elements. I find that photochromic glasses help a lot, they clear up in shade but darken under the sun.
The light is more diffused or softer here than in many other countries. Could be photochemical smog or the humidity.
That is purely in your imagination. Japan is not known for its "photochemical smog" and other far more humid countries still require the wearing of sunglasses in bright sunlight. Maybe you haven't travelled much outside of Canada and Japan?
The obvious answer is that there are not many "cool" people. Unless they are wearing them indoors which is very uncool unless they are blind like Stevie Wonder who is very cool.
This feels like purely a generational thing or just the kind of places and crowds the writers visit. I see most younger guys and girls wearing them or having them on sunny days in Osaka. Also at night to look dumb. But there’s also the tinted glasses that are definitely not not sunglasses that most dudes seem to have these days.
No it isn’t. The sunlight literally hurts my eyes at certain times in Canada and other countries where I have been, and I have to squint or look down if not wearing sunglasses. I very very rarely have that problem in Japan. My friend’s Japanese wife who lives there says the same thing and has some sort of racial theory about it.
“Japan is not known for its "photochemical smog"”
Tell that to my Tokyo ward office, which issues smog alerts on the hottest days, shutting down outdoor swimming pools and telling residents to stay indoors.
Strongly recommend buying lenses for eyeglasses that automatically darken when outside, that also includes UV and Blue light protection. If so, only time you'll really need sunglasses is if swimming outside with contacts
If you do above while young, you'll likely not have to worry about cataracts and other eye issues when elderly
Tell that to my Tokyo ward office, which issues smog alerts on the hottest days, shutting down outdoor swimming pools and telling residents to stay indoors.
Tokyo is not Japan, it's one tiny part of it and yes, has some smog occasionally but it's somewhat localised. I lived in Tokyo for 18 years.
They probably associate sunnies with the yakuza or gangs or some other similar hogwash as they do tattoos. For those who wear glasses, they could opt for transition lens which darken in sunlight. They're great and much more efficient than carrying a pair of sunglasses around.
I think most Japanese do relate sunglasses to Yakuza and criminal elements. As if you're not willing to let people see your face. Which makes no sense since half the country are still wearing masks unnecessarily. They also relate sunglasses to foreigners, since many tourists as well as US military wear them.
You don't say. I often drive in rural Japan, usually Tohoku. I always bring along the sunglasses but only need them when directly facing the sun. In other countries, on clear days, the sunglasses are on most of the time. Maybe HOkkaido is different.
I've got no social issues with sunglasses, and I take them along when traveling or playing sports. But I use them a lot less in Japan than in gaikoku. My eyes don't need them as much.
My partner has never own a pair of sunglasses nor has sun tinting glasses. I asked her once why? She simple said, we have dark coloured eyes John san. So this Why ?? is only a fashion trend which goes like all fashion trends and eventually die out.
I kid you not, if I can screenshot my office's teams chat I would.
The UI/UX (user interface) "expert" in my team literally write on chat "for Japanese/Asian version of the software, we picked these bright colors. For US/western version dim the color by 30%~40%, because westerners are more sensitive to lights"
I re-read the chat log a few times, thinking maybe I missed the lines where they started the joke ? ... nope, it was the official chat for "design doc" discussion, so not allowed to be filled with "chit chat".
If a Japanese UI designer says he needs dim lit room so lighting doesn't wash out the monitor's color, he'll praised for "dedication". Replace Japanese with a foreigner, they go "ah foreigners have sensitive eyes!" ...
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deanzaZZR
Japanese super powers. If you have blue eyes you will not have this super power.
JeffLee
The light is more diffused or softer here than in many other countries. Could be photochemical smog or the humidity. I definately need sunglasses while driving in summer in Canada, but not in Japan unless directly facing the sun.
In Japan, I just wear them on the beach or tennis court. Never in town.
Toshihiro
In Japan, they often associate sunglasses with suspicious activity and suspicious people. Just take a look at a few Yak movies and you'll get the idea. It's the same with tattoos, they're stigmatized even though they shouldn't be. Sunglasses are essential during hot and sunny days, especially for those in vehicles where you're not protected from the elements. I find that photochromic glasses help a lot, they clear up in shade but darken under the sun.
Harry_Gatto
That is purely in your imagination. Japan is not known for its "photochemical smog" and other far more humid countries still require the wearing of sunglasses in bright sunlight. Maybe you haven't travelled much outside of Canada and Japan?
Mr Kipling
The obvious answer is that there are not many "cool" people. Unless they are wearing them indoors which is very uncool unless they are blind like Stevie Wonder who is very cool.
wallace
I wear them most days to protect my eyes at the request of my Ophthalmologist. I don't wear them indoors.
GillislowTier
This feels like purely a generational thing or just the kind of places and crowds the writers visit. I see most younger guys and girls wearing them or having them on sunny days in Osaka. Also at night to look dumb. But there’s also the tinted glasses that are definitely not not sunglasses that most dudes seem to have these days.
JeffLee
@HarryGato
No it isn’t. The sunlight literally hurts my eyes at certain times in Canada and other countries where I have been, and I have to squint or look down if not wearing sunglasses. I very very rarely have that problem in Japan. My friend’s Japanese wife who lives there says the same thing and has some sort of racial theory about it.
Tell that to my Tokyo ward office, which issues smog alerts on the hottest days, shutting down outdoor swimming pools and telling residents to stay indoors.
HopeSpringsEternal
Strongly recommend buying lenses for eyeglasses that automatically darken when outside, that also includes UV and Blue light protection. If so, only time you'll really need sunglasses is if swimming outside with contacts
If you do above while young, you'll likely not have to worry about cataracts and other eye issues when elderly
Health = Wealth!
Harry_Gatto
Tokyo is not Japan, it's one tiny part of it and yes, has some smog occasionally but it's somewhat localised. I lived in Tokyo for 18 years.
wallace
This is a very good site for atmospheric pollution.
https://aqicn.org/map/japan/
purple_depressed_bacon
They probably associate sunnies with the yakuza or gangs or some other similar hogwash as they do tattoos. For those who wear glasses, they could opt for transition lens which darken in sunlight. They're great and much more efficient than carrying a pair of sunglasses around.
OssanAmerica
I think most Japanese do relate sunglasses to Yakuza and criminal elements. As if you're not willing to let people see your face. Which makes no sense since half the country are still wearing masks unnecessarily. They also relate sunglasses to foreigners, since many tourists as well as US military wear them.
JeffLee
@HarryGatto
You don't say. I often drive in rural Japan, usually Tohoku. I always bring along the sunglasses but only need them when directly facing the sun. In other countries, on clear days, the sunglasses are on most of the time. Maybe HOkkaido is different.
I've got no social issues with sunglasses, and I take them along when traveling or playing sports. But I use them a lot less in Japan than in gaikoku. My eyes don't need them as much.
John-San
My partner has never own a pair of sunglasses nor has sun tinting glasses. I asked her once why? She simple said, we have dark coloured eyes John san. So this Why ?? is only a fashion trend which goes like all fashion trends and eventually die out.
kibousha
I kid you not, if I can screenshot my office's teams chat I would.
The UI/UX (user interface) "expert" in my team literally write on chat "for Japanese/Asian version of the software, we picked these bright colors. For US/western version dim the color by 30%~40%, because westerners are more sensitive to lights"
I re-read the chat log a few times, thinking maybe I missed the lines where they started the joke ? ... nope, it was the official chat for "design doc" discussion, so not allowed to be filled with "chit chat".
If a Japanese UI designer says he needs dim lit room so lighting doesn't wash out the monitor's color, he'll praised for "dedication". Replace Japanese with a foreigner, they go "ah foreigners have sensitive eyes!" ...