"Detective! Night Scoop" (ABC TV, Friday 11:17 PM) is a popular variety show in which "detectives" tackle viewers' unusual requests and worries. On March 13th, detective Maeda Ken investigated the question, "Is it possible to sneeze with your eyes open?" Film director Tsutsumi Yukihiko appeared as the special director, with Takeyama Takanori as assistant director and Masuda Saori as secretary.
The request came from a 66-year-old woman in Osaka City. She rides her bicycle every day and often sneezes while riding. The problem is that when she sneezes, she always closes her eyes. What's more, in the case of women, she tends to keep her eyes closed for a long time before and after sneezing.
During that time, I was completely unable to see anything in front of me, and I actually almost crashed into a roadside tree. So I tried practicing over and over again to see if I could sneeze with my eyes open, but I just couldn't. If I continued like this, I would eventually have an accident. It's dangerous. I wish they would make it possible to sneeze with my eyes open.
Not only the client, but Detective Maeda also tries it, but fails. According to the program's medical specialist, Dr. Tani, "sneezing is a conditioned reflex that causes the eyes to close."
At this point, five other people who had sent sneezing-related requests to the program joined in. Some people said, "I sneeze when I drink sake," and "I sneeze when I eat chocolate." Professor Tani said, "Sake and chocolate contain a compound called histamine that causes sneezing."
The client is instructed on the trick to "sneezing with your eyes open" and struggles to sneeze, but...
