Japan has ordered its residents to laugh at least once a day; the opposition thinks its human rights violation

A town in Japan's Yamagata prefecture is taking a unique approach to public health. Local lawmakers have passed a law encouraging residents to laugh at least once a day!

This unusual ordinance, enacted last week, is based on research conducted at Yamagata University. The research suggests laughter has significant health benefits, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease and even extending lifespans.

The law doesn't force laughter, but rather aims to nudge residents towards a more cheerful outlook. It encourages daily "sniggers, chortles, or guffaws," along with urging businesses to create laughter-filled work environments.

Remember that Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode where Captain Holt is disgruntled after nobody was having a good time despite him “specifically requesting it”?
The eighth of every month is now designated as "Laughter Day," further promoting the lighthearted initiative.

However, the law has sparked some debate. Critics, including members of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP), argue it infringes on personal freedoms. "The right to laugh, or not to laugh, is guaranteed by the constitution," said JCP member Toru Seki. Others, like Satoru Ishiguro of the Constitutional Democratic Party, worry the law disregards those struggling to laugh due to illness or hardship.

Defenders of the law, like Kaori Ito of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), emphasise it's an encouragement, not a mandate. "There's no penalty for not laughing," says Ito. Officials also clarified the law is focused on promoting well-being, not forced merriment.

Whether laughter truly becomes the best medicine in Yamagata remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure, this lighthearted approach to health is certainly getting a chuckle out of the world.