The health exams can have serious repercussions for children, says Akiyo Tanaka, a city councillor in Matsuyama. Some of them continue to experience trauma into adulthood.
There is no unified policy on whether children should undress or remain clothed during the checkups, with local education boards left to decide in conjunction with visiting health professionals.
One western Japanese city senior high schools, whose oldest students are 18, requires that pupils are topless during the checks. Surveys show that most teachers want the requirement to end.
Another says: Before the exam our teacher told us we would have to lift up our tops and bra. I didn't want to do it but I couldn't say no.
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