# Where does the idea that Japanese people are nearsighted come from?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-idea-that-japanese-people-are-nearsighted-come-from/503985>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-idea-that-japanese-people-are-nearsighted-come-from/503985 "2009-07-23T11:27:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-idea-that-japanese-people-are-nearsighted-come-from/503985/21 "2009-07-23T17:44:35Z")

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> [@Fear\_Itself](#):
>
> [Here’s another.](http://www.wwii-collectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOC&Product_Code=uspaa209&Category_Code=uspaa) And [another](http://www.wwii-collectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOC&Product_Code=uspaa216&Category_Code=uspaa). And [another](http://www.wwii-collectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOC&Product_Code=uspaa218&Category_Code=uspaa). And [another](http://www.wwii-collectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOC&Product_Code=uspaa221&Category_Code=uspaa). And [another](http://www.wwii-collectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOC&Product_Code=uspaa236&Category_Code=uspaa). And [another](http://www.wwii-collectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOC&Product_Code=uspaa254&Category_Code=uspaa).

That’s weird. The guy in that 5th link looks practically Irish.

[http://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Irish-Idol-Anti-Irish-Cartoon-Depicting-the-Irish-People-Worshipping-the-M-Posters\_i1875522\_.htm](http://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Irish-Idol-Anti-Irish-Cartoon-Depicting-the-Irish-People-Worshipping-the-M-Posters_i1875522_.htm)

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-idea-that-japanese-people-are-nearsighted-come-from/503985/22 "2009-07-23T17:57:21Z")

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> [@scr4](#):
>
> And I’m sure **Captain Amazing** has the right explanation of the “Toolie” poster since the poster features drawings of broken machine tools.

Oh, tools. I thought they looked like cigarettes and other smoking paraphernalia.

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