If you live with Japanese people, you may notice that most women tend to cover their mouths when they laugh or even when taking photos. It seems that they are embarrassed by their smiles. There is a historical reason behind this, and in this article, we will try to understand it.
Nowadays, Japanese women believe that this practice is a polite way, good etiquette. Of course, some do this just to hide their teeth, because in Japan, people do not care much about dental hygiene and having a beautiful smile; many teeth are misaligned or crooked. This is so common that some girls even pay to make their teeth crooked. Some Japanese girls claim that they hide their smiles because Japanese society disapproves of scandalous women.
Another thing that influences this practice is the fact that laughter in Japan is usually quiet. Japanese people do not tend to shout or laugh loudly; this can be viewed negatively among women, which is why they cover their mouths. Japan is a collectivist country; some Japanese women had this practice, and other Japanese women ended up imitating it, and it became a standard. Nowadays, putting a hand over the mouth when smiling is seen as something graceful and cute.
Historical reasons for covering the mouth
Some claim that the custom of covering the mouth when laughing dates back to the Kofun period (250-538). We do not know exactly when it started, but a common practice at that time in various Asian countries was to dye teeth black to strengthen them and protect against cavities and periodontitis. Because of this, many women were embarrassed to show their black smiles. Another ancient custom was that showing the inside of the mouth was not polite; it was normal to only show a smile.
This custom of dyeing teeth black was called Ohaguro (お歯黒). This was not a source of shame; many did this to hide their yellow teeth, as white makeup on the face highlighted the yellow of the teeth. Having black teeth was fashionable during the Nara Period (710-794), but it would not be unusual for some girls to dislike it and end up creating this custom of covering the mouth, which spread to most Japanese women.
Other reasons and facts about covering the mouth
Covering the mouth when smiling can also be something natural for women. A universal custom is to put a hand over the face or mouth when a person is surprised or embarrassed. There are many similarities regardless of cultural backgrounds. Nowadays, it is common for Western women to feel embarrassed to open their mouths or laugh loudly, or they simply find it cute and graceful when girls cover their mouths while smiling.
Embarrassment and shyness also have a significant effect on this custom. We can see that many Japanese women like to post photos on Instagram covering their faces. Some even have the habit of wearing masks even when they are not sick. Other people simply feel embarrassed to laugh and cover their faces. You can notice that even with a hand over the mouth, you can still see the person’s beautiful smile.
Do men also cover their mouths when laughing? Yes, the problem is that women are more sensitive, polite, and have more fear of offending than men. It is worth noting that this is not a Japanese custom; it is just more common in Japan! People who cover their mouths when laughing can be found all over the world. Many times it will depend on the situation and the subject. Some find it rude to laugh openly in public, while some Japanese women do not adhere to this custom.
And you? What do you think about this subject? Do you find it polite? Strange? Do you usually cover your mouth? Do you find it attractive and graceful? We would love to hear your opinions in the comments. Thank you in advance for reading, sharing, and commenting.
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