Sanpaku
Sanpaku or sanpaku gan is a Japanese term referring to a person with visible sclera on three sides of their irises: the normal left and right, plus above or below. The term is most often used in English to refer to a folk belief whereby it functions as an omen or symptom in alternative medicine. It was introduced into English in the mid-1960s by George Ohsawa as a condition supposedly cured by his macrobiotic method.
In manga iconography, sanpaku eyes are used to make a character seem dangerous or threatening.
History
According to traditional Chinese and Japanese face reading, the eye is composed of two parts, the yin and the yang. The visibility of the sclera beneath the iris is said to represent physical imbalance in the body, and is claimed to be present in alcoholics, drug addicts, and people who over-consume sugar or grain. Conversely, the visibility of the upper sclera is said to be an indication of mental imbalance in people such as psychotics, murderers, and anyone rageful. In either condition, it is believed that these people attract accidents and violence.In August 1963, George Ohsawa, an advocate for macrobiotics, predicted that President John F. Kennedy would experience great danger because of his sanpaku condition.
In 1965, Ohsawa, assisted by William Dufty, wrote You Are All Sanpaku, which offers the following perspective on the condition:
According to Ohsawa, this condition could be treated by a macrobiotic diet emphasizing brown rice and soybeans.