In one of Keiko Kawano's recent classes, more than a dozen Tokyo art school students held mirrors to their faces, stretching the sides of their mouths upward with their fingers: they were practising how to smile.
It's not something most people would think to pay for but Kawano's services as a smile instructor are seeing a surge in demand in Japan, where mask-wearing was near universal during the pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, donning a mask in Japan was normal for many during hay fever season and around exams due to concern about getting ill for a key life event. Tellingly, roughly a quarter of the art school students who took the class kept their masks on during the lesson. Young people have, perhaps, become used to life with masks, Kawano said, noting that women might find it easier to go out without makeup and men could hide that they hadn't shaved.
Her trademarked "Hollywood Style Smiling Technique" method comprises "crescent eyes", "round cheeks" and shaping the edges of the mouth to bare eight pearly whites in the upper row. Students can try out their technique on a tablet to get scored on their smile.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
MUFG to facilitate Japanese bank-backed stablecoins via Progmat Coin platformMUFG’s Progmat Coin platform will soon be utilized to issue bank-backed stablecoins in Japan, with the firm also working on providing cross-chain infrastructure slated for launch in Q2 2024.
Read more »
Sexual assault accuser must pay alleged abuser’s wife damages: Japanese courtThe wife sued her husband’s accuser for breaching the country’s civil code for their sexual affair.
Read more »
BBC Insider Says Japanese Not ‘Willing’ to Air Exposé on Prolific Pop PedophileThe founding father of J-pop molested young talents for years. When the BBC revealed his crimes in an explosive documentary, Japan’s mainstream media didn’t want to know.
Read more »
Hollywood Fringe Festival celebrates diverse, artistic freedom over weeks-long celebrationArtistic freedom at its best! The Hollywood Fringe Festival will once again host what amounts to hundreds of shows celebrating artistic freedom in all sorts of ways.
Read more »
Los Angeles Councilmembers Repping Hollywood Issue Resolution Backing WGA StrikersLos Angeles City Councilmembers representing Hollywood introduced a resolution on Friday in support of the striking workers, and calling on the studios to return to the bargaining table to meet wor…
Read more »
She Refused to Let Hollywood Reject Her Queer Love StorySinger Hayley Kiyoko opens up about the struggle to turn her hit song “Girls Like Girls” into a “hopeful” story for queer teens.
Read more »