Japanese people are enlisting the help of experts to relearn the art of smiling after spending three years concealing their faces behind masks during the Covid pandemic.
The lifting of pandemic restrictions in Japan has prompted individuals to seek guidance on rediscovering their cheerful expressions.
While mask-wearing remains prevalent, some individuals worry that prolonged mask use has made them forget how to smile or that their smiles may appear insincere.
Others simply feel anxious about revealing the lower half of their faces to the world again.
To assist them in beaming once more, many are turning to experts who specialize in helping people regain their pre-pandemic cheer.
According to “smile trainer” Miho Kitano, who spoke to the Japan Times, her company, Smile Facial Muscle Association, has witnessed a surge in demand as people strive to recapture their smiles.
Kitano provides her students with smile exercises, such as biting down on straws, which help elevate their cheek muscles and display their teeth.
Kitano explained, “I meet many people who say they aren’t good at smiling, but it’s all about the muscles, and we have to use and train them in order to get good at it.”
She compared exercising the expressive muscles to working out other parts of the body, emphasizing its importance.
During the pandemic, Japan’s population adhered diligently to mask policies, leading to significantly lower infection and mortality rates compared to Western nations.
With face coverings now being optional in Japan, individuals are seeking assistance to regain their smiles and reacquaint themselves with the lower portion of their faces.
