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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."