No kidding: Why a Japanese prefecture has introduced a law that makes laughing mandatory

Laughing is a pretty serious matter in this particular region of Japan.

As per a rule passed in the Yamagata prefecture in northern Japan last week, citizens are now required to laugh at least once a day.

The development comes after evidence suggests laughing reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues.

Let’s take a look.

The laughter rule

The laughter rule states that Yamagata citizens “will deepen their understanding of the beneficial health effects of laughter and make efforts to shape mental and physical health through means such as laughing once a day.”

Workplaces have also been directed to create an “environment filled with laughter.”

Every month on the eighth, there is a “day of laughter” that should be celebrated even more, as per Wion News.

Members of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party introduced the new rule and passed it.

The study

The rule is based on a research study published in the Journal of Epidemiology in 2019, as per Dailymail.

As per the study, which was carried out by a team from Yamagata University School of Medicine, there is strong evidence that laughing has several health advantages.

The study included around 17,152 participants who were 40 years of age or younger.

After completing a questionnaire about how often they laughed, their health was monitored for several years.

According to the findings, people who laughed at least once a week had a lower risk of cardiovascular issues than people who laughed less frequently than once a month.

Silent laughs were not taken into consideration; only “laugh out loud” laughing was.

“Our findings suggest that increasing the frequency of laughter might reduce cardiovascular disease risk and increase longevity,” the authors concluded.

In the prefecture of Hokkaido, August 8 has been declared a “day of laughter” since the number 8/8 sounds like “haha” in Japanese, the report said.

The debate

However, the new rule faces massive criticism from several politicians, who believe it infringes on people’s constitutional rights.

“To laugh or not to laugh is one of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the constitution regarding freedom of thought and creed as well as inner freedom,” said Toru Seki, assemblyman for the Japan Communist Party, as per Strait Times.

Others argued that the law discriminates against those who cannot laugh due to disabilities.

Satoru Ishiguro, of the coalition Prefectural Politics Club, said, as per Dailymail, “The human rights of those who have difficulties laughing due to illness or other reasons must not be undermined.”

Responding to the criticism, LDP lawmaker Kaori Ito clarified, “The ordinance does not force people to laugh. It also emphasises the respect for an individual’s personal decision."

He also noted that there is no punitive penalty for those who fail to laugh every day, as per Strait Times.

On July 1, a group named the Yamagata Administrative Check Volunteer Association filed a petition requesting the laughing law’s repeal.

The group said that the “abnormal law” would end up as a precedent that violates people’s rights or, worse, turn them into a “humiliating laughing stock.” As of July 11, over 300 people had signed it.

Others contend that, despite the health benefits of laughter, people should still be free to choose not to laugh and that this should not be imposed by the government.

Politicians should stop being “ridiculous,” according to Kyushu University constitutional expert Shigeru Minamino.

“It’s none of your business,” he said, adding, “I believe it is good to laugh at least once a day but that’s down to my personal opinions and values. It’s not something to be ordered or recommended by a prefectural assembly.”

Benefits of laughter

Laughter, according to the India Times, which cited lifestyle websites, has many health benefits.

This includes improving immunity, increasing efficiency, and generating feel-good hormones.

It also creates a nice atmosphere at work and at home by fostering a sense of simplicity and belonging.

Laughter boosts immunity and lowers stress, which makes people less prone to illness and more capable of overcoming obstacles.

In addition, the practice activates organs, produces endorphins, lowers stress hormones, relieves pain, and burns calories.

With inputs from agencies