The term most famously refers to Sumiko Fuji (born 1945), the legendary Japanese actress and enka singer. Known for her piercing gaze and transition from yakuza film star to dignified matriarch, her smile is a cultural touchstone.
(if you have access): ProQuest Asian Studies , JSTOR (search "Japanese pornography industry"). sumiko smile best
, a contemporary author and martial artist known for her "subtle, economical" smile, and Sumiko Tan The term most famously refers to Sumiko Fuji
To match its performance in a Moving Coil cartridge, you would need to spend around $500 (e.g., the Denon DL-103, which also requires a step-up transformer). When you factor in that the Smile Best has a user-replaceable stylus (buy the Sumiko "Smile Best Replacement Stylus" when it wears out), the long-term value is undeniable. JSTOR (search "Japanese pornography industry").