noun
illiterate person; person who sees without understanding; amaurosis
Sensitive term. Literally 'seeing blind', it refers to someone who can see but cannot read (illiterate) or fails to comprehend what they see. Also used medically for amaurosis (blindness without visible eye damage).
昔は学校に行けず、明き盲になる人も多かった。
In the past, many people couldn't go to school and became illiterate.
彼は字が読めない
He was illiterate and couldn't read, but he learned the trade by ear.
Compound of 明き (aki, 'open, seeing') + 盲 (mekura, 'blind person'). The term is now considered sensitive due to the derogatory nature of 盲 (mekura).