‘Smile Schools’ for Japanese Workers

“Learning to Grin--and Bear It” (Feb. 22), on Japanese “smiling courses,” has moved me to write. Your story only reinforces deeply ingrained American stereotypes of the Japanese as a humorless, emotionally constrained people. Although certainly the Japanese are not as overt in their emotional expression as their American counterparts, they are quite well acquainted with the art of smiling. I’m sure the group of Japanese taking these courses is so small as to be hardly worth mentioning.

Having lived and worked in Japan for three years, I can tell you I spent a good deal of time laughing with Japanese friends and co-workers.

JESSICA M. JENSEN

Los Angeles

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How sad to insist that Japanese employees now take on the ever-smiley characteristics of their American counterparts and lose what runs deepest in their culture. Maybe they’ll learn, like Hiroshi Ieyoshi, whose “smile phobia runs deep,” that not everyone appreciates fake grins while conducting their most mundane affairs.

I am about to change markets because of the new Vons/Safeway policy that every box boy or check-out clerk has (as per instructions behind their counter) to greet me by name--as on my market card--inquire how I am today (even when I am obviously ill) and insist that I “have a nice day.” So now they’re training a new cadre of pod-like Japanese, too. Smile, we’re witnessing the McDonald’s-ization of the world. Have a nice day. I’ll take sincerity any day.

JUDY RAPHAEL

North Hollywood