Menicon Supports Outdoor Play Initiative to Promote Children’s Eye Health and Myopia Awareness in Japan

Menicon Co., Ltd. (“Menicon”)  (Head Office: 21-19, Aoi 3, Naka-ku, Nagoya; Director, President and CEO: Koji Kawaura) announced that it has become a supporting member of the Nonprofit Organization for the Promotion of Outdoor Play for Children (the “Outdoor Play Promotion Association”) in Japan, beginning in fiscal year 2026. Through this initiative, Menicon aims to support children’s healthy development while contributing to greater awareness of the importance of outdoor activity for eye health.

Supporting Children’s Eye Health Amid the Growing Challenge of Myopia
Myopia among children is an increasing global health concern. Research in Japan and internationally has suggested that spending approximately two hours a day outdoors may help reduce the risk of myopia onset and progression.*¹ Against this background, the importance of encouraging children to spend more time outdoors has received growing attention.
The Outdoor Play Promotion Association provides programs and activities for infants and school-age children designed to support physical and mental development, sensory experiences, and essential life skills through outdoor play. The organization became a registered nonprofit organization in 2025 and continues to expand its collaboration with local governments, educational institutions, parents, and other stakeholders.
According to information published by the organization, the amount of time spent playing outdoors among upper elementary school children in Japan decreased from 2 hours and 11 minutes in 1981 to 1 hour and 12 minutes in 2016, representing a decline of more than 30% over 35 years.*²
Menicon supports the organization’s mission because outdoor play not only contributes to children’s healthy physical and emotional development but may also play an important role in supporting eye health.

Menicon’s Commitment to Children’s Eye Health
Since developing Japan’s first corneal contact lens in 1951, Menicon has worked under its corporate slogan, “Contributing to society by providing superior visual correction,” supporting people’s eye health and quality of vision through contact lenses, lens care products, and related services.
Menicon has also been engaged in initiatives to raise awareness of children’s eye health among children, parents, and educators.
In addition to educational activities, Menicon is advancing research related to childhood myopia. In April 2022, Menicon established an industry-academia collaboration, “Endowed Course on  Myopia Control”, at Aichi Medical University. Research continues in Japan and internationally into the relationship between time spent outdoors and children’s eye health.
Menicon’s support for the Outdoor Play Promotion Association forms part of this broader commitment to helping children maintain healthy vision and develop healthy habits from an early age.

About the Outdoor Play Promotion Association
The Outdoor Play Promotion Association is a Japanese nonprofit organization that promotes outdoor play among infants and children. Through outdoor activities, the organization aims to support children’s physical and mental development, sensory experiences, and the development of skills that contribute to healthy growth.
For more information, please visit the organization’s official website.

Menicon’s Initiatives for Children’s Eye Health
Menicon conducts a range of educational activities for children, parents, and educators in Japan, including:

Educational Information for Parents
Menicon provides information to help parents recognize changes in their children’s vision and understand appropriate contact lens use, together with educational content from eye care professionals.

Support for Career Education
Since 2016, Menicon has supported Oshigoto Nenkan, a career education publication for elementary and junior high school students published by The Asahi Shinbun Company and The Asahi Gakusei Shimbun Company. Menicon’s educational content introduces children to topics including myopia, vision correction, and eye health.

Educational Content for Children
Menicon has also collaborated with Bunkyosha Co., Ltd. on educational content that helps children learn about how the eyes work and about contact lenses in an engaging and accessible way.

Menicon will continue to support the activities of the Outdoor Play Promotion Association while contributing to a society in which children can grow up healthy and enjoy better vision throughout their lives.