Hidefumi Yoshida is a 'tear teacher'. Through the use of sad films, emotional letters and beautiful scenery he claims to have helped 50,000 people to cry.

It's part of a service in Japan called 'rui-katsu', which means 'tear seeking'. Tear teachers like Hidefumi provide support and a safe space for people who struggle to express their emotions, often due to cultural stigmas.

He says, "Many Japanese people hold back from crying. One of my roles is to help people get rid of their belief that they should not cry."


Video by Keith Bedford and Shiho Fukada

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