The statement issued the other day included the following: “Digital textbooks will be provided free of charge to all students in compulsory education.In addition, we will repeal the regulation limiting the use of digital textbooks to less than half of the total class hours for each subject.” I have since been appointed as a member of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Study Group on the Future of Digital Textbooks,” which has already held three meetings. So, this was my first time participating. (4th Meeting)

Yesterday, we held a meeting with representatives from the Japanese Ophthalmological Society, the Japan Ophthalmological Association, and the Japan Medical Association to gather their input on the issues and points of concern that arise when digital textbooks are used for more than half of the curriculum.The presentation materials have already been made public, so please refer to them for details. Opinions expressed included: “The viewing distance for a book is 30 cm, whereas for a smartphone it is 20 cm,” “Extended use outside of school leads to disruptions in daily life,” “A decrease in outdoor activities contributes to myopia,”“Reading continuously for more than 30 minutes increases the risk of myopia,” and “There is scientific evidence that prolonged smartphone use lowers academic performance and that extended internet use hinders children’s brain development.”

https://www.mext.go.jp/…/shotou/157/siryo/mext_00004.html

I attended yesterday’s meeting with my own personal mission—“to pave the way for the repeal of the 1/2 regulation!”—so I asked questions on three points and received answers.

1. What is the difference between how physical books and digital content are handled?

・Is it correct to assume that, at a distance of 30 cm, the effects on the eyes are the same for both paper and digital media?

・Is it correct to understand that, from the perspective of myopia, reading on paper for more than 30 minutes at a time is not recommended?

・If books could become nearsighted, how would they have dealt with that? (What’s the difference between books and other things?)

[Answer] As long as you're using a tablet or other device with a large screen, there's no difference from a book.

2. We now understand the relationship between time spent outdoors and nearsightedness, but is there a link between digital device use and nearsightedness?

[Answer] There are no long-term results yet, and there is no evidence yet.

3. If there were evidence that the Internet hinders brain development, wouldn’t countries around the world be restricting its use? Why isn’t that happening?

[Answer] A study by Tohoku University has produced data showing adverse effects on brain development. The reason such evidence has not emerged from other countries may be that MRI machines are not as widespread there as they are in Japan, making it difficult to collect the necessary data.

In other words,

・If you use a device with a large screen (not a smartphone) from a distance of 30 centimeters, it’s just like using paper.

・There are no issues regarding its use in schools.

・There is currently no universally accepted evidence from overseas.

(・& Playing outside is important!) That's the point.

There have been many concerns about the physical effects of this technology, but receiving such a clear response from an expert has really put my mind at ease. (Incidentally, if the data on adverse effects on the brain was only verified in Japan due to the widespread use of MRI machines here, I believe that is a remarkable achievement—and a wake-up call for humanity—that should be shared internationally. Why hasn’t that happened?)

Based on the Q&A session above, “I find the rationale for introducing the 1/2 regulation unclear. Wouldn’t it be standard practice to repeal it and address any issues that arise later? While a phased relaxation of the regulation is possible, in that case, a ‘justification’ would be required.If the purpose of introducing the 1/2 regulation—that is, what exactly it is intended to curb—and the rationale behind it remain unclear, it should be reviewed ‘immediately.’ The current social challenge is not that people are using it excessively, but rather that the adoption of digital technology is not progressing. That is precisely why the GIGA School Initiative is moving forward with a substantial budget. We should be encouraging the advancement of its utilization.”

The chairperson from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology responded, “We introduced this cautiously, given the lack of quantitative evidence and the many voices expressing anxiety and concern about health,” and “We struck a balance in the system regarding the extent to which digital technology should be permitted.” I completely understand that.

Given that both the debate and the implementation of these measures have progressed further than they were at that time, we hope for the prompt repeal of these regulations.

Regarding the “free provision of digital textbooks”—another topic I wanted to discuss—I believe that, given the time constraints of the Reiwa 6 fiscal year, we should prioritize creating an environment as soon as possible where as many children as possible can learn using digital textbooks, and therefore, it would be best to provide digital textbooks free of charge.Furthermore, he commented, “At the same time, we should establish a framework in preparation for the next textbook revision so that digital textbooks can be used in conjunction with digital teaching materials and various other digital content, and so that learning data from students can be collected through the use of digital textbooks to facilitate a richer learning experience.”

As a side note, a representative of the medical community made a comment such as, “When reading a 200-page book, with a paper copy you just have to turn the pages, but with a digital version, you have to scroll all the way to page 200, and all that scrolling can damage your eyes.” I felt that unless we first shared an understanding of what current digital textbooks and digital devices are actually like, the discussion would become skewed.

(Reference) Statement on Promoting Post-COVID-19 Education: https://lot.or.jp/wp/report/2366/