On November 6th, Abe Uta, the gold medalist in the women's 52kg judo category at the Tokyo Olympics, was selected as the "Best Smile of the Year 2025" (sponsored by the Japan Dental Association), which recognizes "the celebrity with the brightest smile this year," along with her brother Abe Hifumi, the gold medalist in the men's 66kg judo category at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and attended the award ceremony held in Tokyo.
Hifumi, who brushes her teeth three to four times a day, said, "I'm very happy that my daily dental care and smile have been recognized," while Uta, who always flosses, commented with joy, "I've been reminded that I want to keep smiling every day and continue to do my best."
Sports and teeth are said to be closely related in terms of preventing injuries and improving performance, but when asked about what she is conscious of regarding her teeth when practicing judo, Uta confessed, "I have four wisdom teeth and I'm wondering when to get them removed. They don't hurt now, but they hurt when they came in." Vice President Sekoguchi Seiryo of the Japan Dental Association, who was also on stage, gave her advice, saying, "Please choose the right time to have them removed by your family doctor."
The "Best Smile of the Year" award is given to the celebrity with the brightest smile of the year. It has been held by the Japan Dental Association since 1993, and this year marks its 32nd anniversary. Previous winners in the celebrity category include Ichiro, Aya Ueto, Kanna Hashimoto, Minami Hamabe, Ryoma Takeuchi, and Mai Shiraishi.
