Some Japanese people are confused about not wearing masks. Illustration: The Guardian
“As wearing masks has become the norm, people have fewer opportunities to smile and more and more people are feeling self-conscious about it,” said Keiko Kawano, a trainer at the Egaoiku SmileEducation company, reported The Asahi Shimbun.
“Moving and relaxing your facial muscles is the key to a beautiful smile. I want people to take the time to consciously smile for their physical and mental health,” added Ms. Keiko Kawano.
Japan relaxed its mask-wearing rules in March, leaving it up to people to decide whether or not to wear one. In January, Japan also downgraded its Covid-19 situation to the least severe level on a five-tier system, putting it in the same category as seasonal flu.
Egaoiku said the number of applicants for the course increased four to five times after the news was announced.
Akiko Takizawa, 79, who took the class, said she was excited to return to her pre-mask life with a little help from her smile coach. “I haven’t had a chance to meet people during the Covid-19 pandemic and it’s been a long time since I smiled in front of a crowd,” she told the Mainichi Shimbun.
Coach Keiko Kawano is a familiar face on television and social media, having taught the art of smiling to more than 4,000 people over the past six years, as well as helping hundreds of others become certified “smile experts.” She currently oversees 20 coaches who run classes across Japan.
Early signs suggest the service will be in demand in Japan, where mask-wearing has been common throughout the pandemic. An online survey by Laibo, a career research group, found that 27.8% of company employees in their 20s to 50s said they would continue to wear masks “unconditionally,” with more than 60% saying they would decide whether to wear a mask on a case-by-case basis. Only 5.5% said they were happy not to wear one.
SERIOUS (According to The Guardian)
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