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“More Outdoor Play Project” to Support Outdoor Play from the Perspective of Preventing the Progression of Myopia

In March 2021, as part of its environmental protection measures, shopping bags started to be charged for, and the “More Outdoor Play Project” was launched as an initiative to give back to the creation of a sustainable society by utilizing the proceeds from these shopping bags. In recent years, as the increase in myopia among children has become a social issue, it is recommended that children “Try to go outside at least 2 hours every day if possible” (*) as one of the measures that can be taken in daily life to prevent the progression of myopia. However, it has also been pointed out that the number of places where children can safely play outside is decreasing in communities. Therefore, we launched this project with the aim of communicating the importance of outdoor play and supporting the creation of opportunities and playgrounds where children can play outside in peace.
As a first step, “JINS Miru-iku Play Car,” a vehicle that turns open spaces and vacant lots into outdoor play areas, was donated to Play-Park Setagaya, a certified NPO in Setagaya, Tokyo, in July 2022. As a second step, we donated another JINS Miru-iku Play Car,to Kid’s Pocket, an NPO in Sakai, Osaka, in October 2023. Those JINS Miru-iku Play Cars belong to the respective NPOs and are used for activities that create opportunities for outdoor play, including making regular trips to local parks.
Click here for more information.
(*) Source: Myopia Society Japan, “7 Habits to Prevent the Progression of Myopia in Children.”

Art Workshop

JINS is conducting art workshops at stores that coexist with local communities as part of “Miru-iku 見る育 (eye development)” activities, such as eye health education, organizing opportunities for learning about vision and light, and providing education on the joy of eyesight to children and their guardians.

Free events mainly for elementary school students are held a number of times each year at both “JINS PARK” in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture and “JINS AEON MALL Okazaki” in Okazaki, Aichi, Prefecture.

Donation of Glasses to Scholars at Ashinaga Foundation

The Ashinaga Foundation is a private non-profit organization that supports scholarships, educational support, and psychological care for children who have lost a parent due to illness, disaster, suicide, or other causes, and for children whose parents are unable to work due to disabilities, etc. Aiming to create a society where children in need of glasses can wear them as a matter of course, in February 2023, JINS donated glasses to 692 Ashinaga Scholars (high school and university students) with the hope of supporting their studies.

Joint Project with Tech Kids School

With the objective of "Protecting the Eyes of Children Who Make the Future", JINS collaborates with CA Tech Kids, Inc., a company that operates Tech Kids School which teaches computer programming to elementary students.

Today‘s children have more opportunities to use digital devices on a daily basis, and the environment they take in visually has changed dramatically from that of previous generations. One example is that students at elementary schools began learning a programming curriculum from fiscal 2020. In support of parents who are interested in an ICT education for their children but are worried about the effects it may have on their children's eyes, JINS pursues its aim of "Protecting the Eyes of Children Who Create the Future" and uses its expertise to teach students at the Tech Kids School about light and their eyes, teaching over 2,900 children so far.

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  "Miru-iku" classes for parents and children

  Teaching parents and children about light and eyes

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  Tech Kids CAMP

  A class on light and eyes taught to children who took short programming courses offered during long vacations, e.g. summer vacations

More information about Tech Kids School

Distribution of Supplementary Teaching Materials to Elementary Schools

JINS helped produce supplementary teaching materials to provide correct information about eyes and vision and distributed them for free to some elementary schools in an effort to preclude elementary school children from declining eyesight.

With the theme of "caring for your eyes and preventing short-sightedness", the information in the supplementary teaching materials was supervised by a pediatric eye doctor. The information also included advice for guardians, making it useful for both parents and their children. They are proving extremely helpful to school nurses in giving health guidance, being used for additional counseling after school eye exams and distributed together with traditional health newsletters.

"Miru-iku" Classes on Vision

JINS wants to pique children's interest by teaching them about the structure of their eyes. To this end, JINS worked with Gakken Plus (now, Gakken Inc.) to hold workshops at shopping centers with their parents. As JINS performed all kinds of different demonstrations, JINS taught them about how we see, visualized light that cannot be naturally seen, and other secret wonders of the human eye.

Details

Production and Donation of JINS "Miru-iku Cards"

In recent years, problems with children's eyesight have become more common. In 2019, JINS created JINS "Miru-iku Cards" to help create a society that fosters healthy eyes. Through JINS "Miru-iku Cards", children can have fun while learning about eyes, light and nearsightedness. JINS has donated more than 150 sets to children's centers, after-school programs and other institutions throughout Japan, including the Chiyoda City Board of Education.

Introducing positive feedbacks from all over Japan

From the Chiyoda City Board of Education

A letter of appreciation for the donation of "Miru-iku Cards", from the Chiyoda City Board of Education in January 2020.

From the Tairamachi Children's Center in Meguro

We held an event so that the children could experience playing "Miru-iku Cards". After forming groups of five or six, the children listened intently as each card was read out and then scrambled eagerly to grab the correct one. At times, in response to an unfamiliar word, some would ask questions like "What is blue light?" It was an opportunity for the children to discover the wonders and mysteries of eyes and sight, subjects that many rarely think about. (December 2019 donation)

From children's centers throughout Japan

With many children playing "Miru-iku Cards" every day, JINS receives many feedback from staff at children's centers around Japan. (February 2020 donation)

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  ・Positive Comment (1)
  We heard excited voices like "Wow! Really?!" "Cool!" as the children played the game. The unusual phrases on the cards seemed to catch interest as an "eye-opener". For children in the lower grades, staff members explained the game as they played along, but after learning how to play, they were able to read the cards for other children. (Mirai Children's Center, Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture)

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  ・Positive Comment (2)
  Since the cards got grabbed before the full text was read out, we had the children listen until the end before grabbing them. This increased their competitiveness, leading to heated battles, making the games really exciting. (Motomiya Second Children's Center, Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture)

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  ・Positive Comment (3)
  With the rise of the internet, children often strain their eyes looking at smartphones and playing games. Many have never had an opportunity to learn about eyesight until now. I think this game provides important education for them. (Nishihonji Children's Center, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture)

"Miru-iku Cards" donation destinations
Tairamachi Children's Center in Meguro, Tech Kids School and other children's centers throughout Japan
* Donations made from December 2019 to February 2020

What are "Miru-iku Cards"?

The JINS "Miru-iku Cards" can be enjoyed by children and adults to learn about vision, light, and nearsightedness.
JINS "Miru-iku Cards" also draw attention as an educational toy that improves family communication and nurture everyone to foster good eyesight.

The artwork on the cards was done by Keiko Shibata who also created the popular picture book "Meganeko" published by Tegamisha. The reading cards were made by Tatsuya Kinoshita, a young and rising poet.

Donated T-shirts for club activities to junior high school students in Shibuya Ward

In order to solve the problem of lack of club members, junior high schools in Shibuya Ward have started the Shibuya “Club Activity Reform” project, and joint club activities are being conducted by Shibuya United, a general incorporated association. Aiming to support junior high school students engaged in such club activities, JINS is collaborating with Shibuya Ward. In response to students who voiced concerns that the joint club activities involve students from different enrollment schools and that there were issues with communication among the students, JINS donated 600 original T-shirts for club activities in May 2022.

Online Work Experience Program for Children

For junior high schools whose work experience programs were canceled due to the spread of COVID-19, we created and provided video interviews with JINS employees explaining the nature of their work, why they chose to work at JINS, and how rewarding it is, thereby helping to convey the significance and meaning of work.