Japanese take smile relearning classes after years of masking.

Japanese Citizens Relearn the Art of Smiling

Amidst years of strict government pandemic policies, Japanese citizens are now enrolling in classes to rediscover the joy of smiling.

“I believe they’ve forgotten,” Keiko Kawano, a former radio host who runs the smiling classes in Tokyo, said. “Because they were wearing masks, chances or opportunities to smile declined.”

Videos online showcase students holding up mirrors and using their hands to shape their faces into smiles.

“I hadn’t used my facial muscles much during COVID, so it’s good exercise,” expressed Himawari Yoshida, a 20-year-old student attending the class.

Kawano teaches students the proper use of facial muscles and encourages them to practice smiling in front of mirrors and with video software.

These classes come after years of near-universal masking in Japan, even though the government never imposed mask mandates.

Japan lifted its COVID-19 border restrictions in May, making it one of the last countries to do so.

Slow Progress in the United States

Democrats in the United States were also reluctant to ease their views on the pandemic. A recent poll revealed that a majority of Democrats finally believe the pandemic is over.