Value Village ／ Health
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
People all over the world complain that trying to hold "correct posture" leaves them more tired, not less. Japan has a national guideline on this, covering anyone who works on a PC, tablet or smartphone. Its answer is about time, not shape.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) guideline *Guidelines for Occupational Health Management in Work with Information Devices* (情報機器作業における労働衛生管理のためのガイドライン; 12 July 2019, Notice Kihatsu 0712 No. 3) sets out the following for work using PCs, tablets and smartphones.
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| One continuous work period | Not more than one hour |
| Rest between work periods | 10–15 minutes before the next continuous period |
| Short pauses | About one or two within each continuous work period |
It can be read as being concerned with the length of time spent in the same posture, rather than the posture itself.
[Verify] The above is based on the work-management section of the guideline text. Check the MHLW's original PDF before publication.
Prolonged muscle tension leads to fatigue. A posture that needs constant effort cannot be held, so it does not last. This is thought to be why the guideline sets limits in time.
A chair helps, but the time you spend sitting does not change.
The guideline does not say "when you are tired"; it says "not more than one hour". Break before you get tired.
If your gaze drops too far, the load on your neck increases. Placing the top edge of the screen at about eye level is generally described as one guide. The guideline also gives a guide for viewing distance.
Shoulder and neck complaints have many causes. If they persist, do not try to solve them by correcting your posture; see a doctor (clinics in Japan are covered by national health insurance).
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https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000539603.pdf
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000580827.pdf
https://www.johas.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is not meant to diagnose or manage any specific medical condition. If you are worried about your health, see a doctor rather than relying on your own judgement.
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