March Madness: Belize Victorious Over Japan in Happiness!

According to the just-issued World Happiness Report 2016 Update, at #52 on the list Belize has edged-out Japan which ranks #53.  

Celebrating victory on the streets of Belize!

Japanese official learns of Japan's loss to Belize

School's out early today!

We just couldn't be happier!

No trouble finding smiles in Belize!

 

“You could say that Belize and Japan have always been rivals in happiness,” said Winston Beauregard, Chief Analyst at the Placencia Domingo Lionfish Tank in Stann Creek, Belize. “So this is especially exciting.  On behalf of all happy Belizeans, I invite people from Japan to visit Belize so they can feel briefly happier!”

Beauregard

Everybody's happy in Belize!

Are we happy yet?

Uni: "I can't believe it.  I thought I was so happy."

Reiko Uni, art therapist at the Yazu Steel Corporate Headquarters in Yokohama, was distraught.

The happiness ranking is based on individual responses to a global poll conducted by Gallup.  Reports have been issued annually since 2012.

Denmark is ranked #1 in the world and the Nordic countries form the bulk of the pack in the top 10, along with Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.  Burundi, at #157, brings up the rear.

The United States is in the lucky #13 spot, one step ahead of Costa Rica, which finished 14^th,  and a notch behind Austria, at #12.

Donald Trump, Republican candidate, tweeted: “This is disgusting.  We’re behind Finland?  Are you kidding?  I’m going to make America #1 again and Finland's going to pay for it!”

  

Benin, Afghanistan, Syria, and Togo slugged it out for positions ahead of Burundi in the bottom 5.

  

But the big surprise was Team Iraq, which jumped up out of nowhere and edged-out Namibia to take 112^th place, beating South Africa (116) and India (118).

Tears in Tokyo