After the pandemic, Japanese people are LEARNING to smile again

The Japanese noticed that because they wore masks during the covid-19 pandemic, they lost the ability to smile. Now, after the terror has passed, they are seeking guidance from professionals who can teach them to smile naturally.

smiling again

People in Japan have spent most of the last few years hiding their faces, just like the rest of the world. In early May 2023, the Japanese government officially revoked the need to wear a mask.

However, many people are hesitant to leave their face mask at home. Not out of concern about the coronavirus, but because they believe they have lost the ability to smile.

A growing number of Japanese are turning to smile coaches for advice on how to acclimate to life without masks and regain confidence in smiling broadly.

After the official recommendation to wear masks was removed, many people reported that they found it difficult to fit in and felt uncomfortable. Some Japanese even admit that they have lost the habit of smiling genuinely.

They worry that her smile looks forced, while others are wary of showing strangers the lower half of her face, which has been covered by a mask for more than three years.

How does the “smile class” work?

The effect of prolonged mask use on people's ability to smile was emphasized by Keiko Kawano, trainer of the Egaoiku smile education company, which in Portuguese is translated as “Empresa do Smile".

According to her, the use of the mask became the standard and people had fewer opportunities to smile and, as a result, became afraid of smiling in public.

Participants in the training class smile start with stretching to release stress. Then, as a teacher instructs students to contract their facial muscles, they use hand mirrors to watch their reflections.

She adds that: “The secret to a nice smile is to move and relax your facial muscles. In order to improve your physical and emotional health, I encourage people to spend all their time smiling.”