Sanpaku eyes

I'm still learning about new health concepts in Japan even after all these years, and one I heard about recently was the idea of "sanpaku eyes." The term refers to when the white of the eye is visible on three sides of the iris, either below or above as well as left and right. Traditionally, sanpaku has been linked to ideas of imbalance in the body or mind, reflecting older Japanese and East Asian beliefs about harmony and health.

The concept recently resurfaced after headlines involving the high profile murder of American filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife at the hands of their son. Online discussion drifted toward his appearance and whether sanpaku eyes were somehow a warning sign.

Encountering this idea has made me think about similar sayings from my home country. Growing up, I often heard that "the eyes are the window to the soul," which suggests you can read someone’s inner state simply by looking at them. Not quite the same as sanpaku eyes, but I think it shows that culturally a lot of places put emphasis on the eyes being able to tell you something about a person.