Free they may well be, not to mention beneficial, but in Tokyo at least, smiles are very much a novelty rather than the norm. Of course in bars it’s a different story as there is booze involved, but day to day life is sadly really rather bereft of them.
Now why this should be I don’t know, but what it does do is make those that are seen all the more special. Particularly so when they are big, wonderfully genuine ones that even masks can’t disguise.