Japanese take smile lessons after Covid restrictions are lifted

The Smile Expressions Muscle Association is one of the new companies that is helping the Japanese smile again

The Japanese are signing up for “smile lessons” because they are used to taking off their masks in public now that the government has lowered the threat level posed by the coronavirus.

Local authorities and companies have been offering classes since last year in anticipation of easing rules and ending mandatory masks, but business is booming as risks from the virus have been reduced to the same level as the flu on Monday.

“We're very busy right now because people want to be seen smiling again,” said Miho Kitano, owner of the Smiling Muscle Association. “The Japanese have been wearing masks for more than three years, and some say they have almost forgotten how to smile.”

Ms Kitano was ahead of the curve and founded her company five years ago, offering both online and face-to-face courses on creating the perfect smile, but she says inquiries have skyrocketed since the government announced there would be no more masks. mandatory. . Today, she has about 3,000 clients throughout Tokyo, and a one-hour session costs 11,000 yen (£64).

“Smiling is very natural and very important because it is a signal to the people we meet that we accept them,” she told The Telegraph. “Smiling should be natural to get through to the other person, but for those who smile little, the brain forgets how to use the facial muscles.”

And this became a serious problem when people hid positive emotional reactions behind a mask , she said. “The perfect smile is when the upper teeth are visible and the eyes are relaxed. But I think that any smile is useful, even if it exposes a person's gums or makes their face wrinkle.”

It is said that the key to achieving an attractive smile is the frequent movement of the facial muscles, the smile facilitates easier communication, as well as makes anyone who smiles feel more positive.

There is such demand in the sector that there is even an organization training more “smile coaches”.

Even though masks are no longer mandatory in public places, most Japanese still take precautions. According to the Asahi newspaper, the Japanese were comfortable wearing masks before the pandemic, and now only about 40% of people no longer wear masks in public places in Tokyo.