JAPANESE CITIZENS ARE HIRING SPECIALISTS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO SMILE
Unexpectedly, some people are turning to professionals to help them get
their smiles back following the pandemic. For those who have gotten rusty,
it is difficult to express emotions through this ostensibly spontaneous
human movement. They now have access to a resource of assistance, which is
fantastic news for them.
Keiko Kawano, a former radio host based in Tokyo, Japan, has been
instructing art school students in the proper way to smile. After years of
mask-wearing, Kawano's expertise and that of her group of grin coaches are
in high demand. According to Reuters, she bills students 7,700 yen ($55) per
hour for private instruction.
Kawano started her company, Egaoiku (Smile Education), in 2017 after
identifying a need in the market. Over the past year, the company has
witnessed substantial development. Her clientele is wide, ranging from
companies looking for amiable salespeople to local governments hoping to
increase resident happiness.
Before the pandemic, wearing a mask was a regular practice in Japan,
frequently observed during hay fever season and exams to stop the
transmission of infections. Although the Japanese government removed the
mask requirement earlier this year, many citizens still frequently wear
masks.
In a recent study conducted by the national broadcaster NHK, only 8% of
respondents from Japan claimed to have entirely quit wearing masks, while
55% claimed to do so virtually every day.
It's interesting to note that 25% of the art school students enrolled in
Kawano's Smile Education course continued to wear masks to class. Kawano
pointed out that the younger generation has become accustomed to using masks
and indicated that masks might be an alternative for men who don't shave or
ladies who don't want to wear makeup.
Kawano mentors approximately two dozen smile trainers in order to help them
teach the ideal grin. She created her own method, which she calls the
"Hollywood Style Smiling Technique." In order to highlight the top row of
teeth using this technique, crescent eyes, rounded cheeks, and precise mouth
contouring are all created. Students utilize tablets to practice their grins
while collecting points.
When meeting with members of various communities, Kawano emphasizes the
growing necessity for people to smile not just with their eyes but also with
their mouths. This ability becomes increasingly more important as foreign
tourists resume visiting Japan. Kawano asserts that a smile has a deeper
meaning and that Westerners are generally more likely to smile. She claims
that a smile traditionally means, "I'm not carrying a gun, and I'm not a
threat to you."
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