Japanese people are seeking the expertise of smile tutors to relearn the art of smiling after years of concealing their mouths behind masks.
With the official advice on mask-wearing lifted, many individuals are finding it challenging to adjust to life without face coverings, to the extent that some have admitted forgetting how to smile.
Keiko Kawano, a coach with the smile education company Egaoiku, explained that the prolonged mask-wearing period had led to a decrease in smiling opportunities, resulting in an increasing number of people feeling self-conscious about their smiles.
Kawano emphasised, according to The Guardian, that consciously moving and relaxing the facial muscles would be crucial for creating a genuine and pleasant smile, promoting both physical and mental well-being.