Society

Sagging cheeks, nasolabial folds, neck wrinkles? Watch out for 'smartphone face!'

TOKYO, Dec 15 (News On Japan) - As the New Year's holiday approaches, many people find themselves glued to their mobile phones, leading to a phenomenon known as the 'smartphone face.'

According to experts, 'smartphone face' refers to wrinkles and sagging that occur among young people due to long periods of looking down at smartphones.

This isn't due to aging, but rather the unusual strain on skin caused by looking down and maintaining a hunched posture, leading to skin damage. Continuous smartphone use without much facial movement can also lead to weakened facial muscles, resulting in cheek sagging, smile lines, and wrinkles on the sides of the neck. These issues are increasingly being seen among the younger generation.

To prevent this, it's crucial not to use smartphones in a 'hunched posture.' Using them in a proper, upright posture doesn't pose as much of a problem and doesn't lead to sagging.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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