Jakarta –
The Japanese government withdrew its recommendation to wear a mask for the prevention of COVID-19 last March. However, many residents seem to have forgotten how to make facial expressions after nearly three years of using masks in a row.
They may even need professional help to get back to learning to smile. “People haven’t lifted their cheeks under masks or made an effort to smile a lot,” said Keiko Kawano, who teaches smiling through her company Egaoiku which translates to “Smile Education” to the New York Times. .
Lessons to perfect the perfect smile cost around $55 USD for one session, with one teacher teaching how to build up the cheek muscles and create a dazzling smile.
“I didn’t use my facial muscles much during COVID,” Himawari Yoshida, a 20-year-old Kawano student, explained to Reuters, adding that she took the course at the recommendation of her school to prepare for the job market.
Kawano teaches the “Hollywood Style Smiling Technique”, which teaches how to get “crescent eyes” and “round cheeks”. Also, learn to shape the edges of the mouth to reveal the top eight teeth.
“A four-fold increase in demand for lessons post-COVID,” said Kawano.
One exercise instructs students to hold a mirror up to their face and stretch the sides of their mouths with their fingers to get used to the feeling.
“Culturally, a smile means I’m not holding a gun and I’m not a threat to you,” he explains.
In May, public broadcaster NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai) conducted a poll which said about 55 percent of Japanese people were still wearing masks as often as government guidelines were in force. Meanwhile, around 8 percent of people are no longer wearing masks.
“I think there is a growing need for people to smile,” Kawano continued.
Watch Video “Japan Downgrades Covid-19 Classification to Common Flu“
(juice/juice)
2023-06-07 01:04:05
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