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Anger's one way to meet the new world economy, but how about a big welcoming smile.

In Japan, they're learning to grin and bear it – and if they don't pass the class they may find themselves swept aside in a glum corporate downsizing. From poker-faced Tokyo, Mark Simkin has our postcard.

Noh Theatre performance

0’10

Simkin: Noh is one of the world's oldest forms of theatre.

0’16

For more than six centuries, its unique combination of dance, drama and music has entranced Japanese audiences.

0’26

But to many western eyes, Noh is aptly named. There's no action, no obvious plot, no dialogue, and absolutely no facial expression.

0’38

Mind you, when the climax comes, it's well worth waiting for.

0’47

Professor

Professor: In Noh theatre, actors use a Noh mask, which has no expression, but by tilting or lifting the mask, show very wide emotions.

0107

Simkin: But to a westerner it's rather boring.

0113

Professor: [laughs] Japanese can read.

0115

This is an Japanese face, about 20,000 years ago…

0116

Professor at computer

Simkin: Professor Hiroshi Harashima has a face fetish. He studies the changing face of Japan.

0128

Professor: Modern Japanese face, and this is the future Japanese face, in about 100 years time.

Noh performance

0148

Simkin: The professor believes the history of the Japanese face find expression or lack of it, in Noh theatre. For many Japanese, facial expression is limited and smiling is, well, frowned upon. For centuries it was considered inappropriate to use the face as a tool of expression.

0206

Professor: What counts is the mind, not the face – an old wise saying in Japan.

0219

Simkin: The ideal was a mask like appearance – emotion was conveyed by very subtle movements, and a smile had its own meaning.

0’230

Professor: We show smile to cheat others and to hide ourselves.

0’243

Simkin: What's got the Japanese laughing – or at least trying to – is globalisation. If you're going to compete in the global market place, you have to act like everyone else.

Smile school 0’255

Music

02’57

Simkin: The result – smile schools.

03’03

Singing

03’09

Simkin: Smile schools like this one have been overwhelmed by people who want to learn how to express emotion.

03’18

Singing

03’23

Simkin: This particular class specialises in the basics. Students are taught how to appear sad at a funeral.

03’33

And happy at a wedding.

03’44

And then there's anger. Pupils are shown how they should look if someone interrupts them when they don't want to be disturbed.

03’52

Music

03’55

Imai: Excuse me, Miss Takanochi… Did you get it? This is the right response!

04’03

Imai: Many Japanese simply don't know what expression they should make and when they should make it. For example, one man we had here thought he needed to smile when he got scolded by his boss – so he got scolded more.

Kadokawa on street

04’26

Simkin: Yoshihito Kadokawa is Japan's smile guru. He runs a booming business, the Smile Amenity Institute. Teaching the emotionally challenged how to appear happy.

04’38

Today, Mr. Kadokawa is holding a smile seminar at one of Tokyo's biggest department stores.

04’48

Indications are it will be a challenging assignment.

0’456

It's easy to smile when you're laughing, he tells his students – the hard thing is to be able to smile on demand.

05’02

Kadokawa: When you don't feel well, deliberately try to raise your mouth. By raising your mouth you can convey a friendly feeling.

Smile warm up 05’17

Simkin: Like most work-outs, this one begins with a warm-up.

05’20

Simkin: The smile master has even brought props.

05’26

Kadokawa: This is a chopstick – please chew softly. You have to get the edges of your mouths above the line of the chopstick. Please move your mouth up like this -- then, if you can, pull the chopsticks out. This shape should be the result.

Smile workshop 05’47

Music

05’59

Simkin: After several hours of intensive smile therapy, the results are mixed.

06’04

Some students just don't seem to get it.

06’10

For some Japanese people, smiling is just no laughing matter.

06’17

The company certainly takes it seriously. Personnel manager Kodama-san says non-smilers will be downsized.

Kodama-san

06’24

Kodama-san: We need to provide not only high quality merchandise but also better service – especially smiles.

06’40

Simkin: in the new globalised user friendly Japan no smile could mean no job – and no future – or perhaps if you're really unlucky, a future in Noh.

Credits: 06’57

Reporter: Mark Simkin

Camera: Geoff Lye

Sound: Jun Matsuzono

Editor: Garth Thomas

Research: Yayoi Eguchi