Smile Academy, a Fukuoka-based organization, has released a new gallery featuring the most popular images from its free stock photography website, Muscle Plus. The site specializes in images of muscular men in mundane or whimsical settings, with the stated goal of promoting tourism and culture in rural Fukuoka Prefecture.
December 25, 2022
The site published an image set involving a kitchen scene at Patisserie Serenite, featuring models adding protein to whipped cream. This entry has accumulated 14,419 likes and 846,854 views.
September 29, 2024
A photo featuring weightlifters eating yakiimo, a roasted sweet potato snack, attracted viral attention when a cat appeared during the shoot. The image has garnered 109,505 likes and 6,548,394 views.
July 18, 2025
A summer-themed photograph taken at the Fukufuku no Sato farmers’ market, showcasing models in a sunflower field, reached 94,684 likes and 3,594,236 views.
September 26, 2026
The platform’s top-ranked image, featuring two models in the cosmos flower fields of Nokonoshima Park, received 123,553 likes and 9,337,570 views.
October 1, 2026
A demonstration of tea harvesting techniques at Yame Central Tea Plantation was uploaded, securing 52,535 likes and 2,170,577 views.
Current Status of Muscle Plus
As of October 21, 2026, the Muscle Plus platform continues to track engagement metrics for its library of stock photos. The organization uses these viral moments to draw attention to local Japanese landmarks and events. The data is intended to help users identify high-impact imagery for their projects while supporting regional revitalization efforts.
Why it matters: This initiative demonstrates an unconventional approach to regional tourism marketing. By combining humor with professional photography, the organization leverages social media virality to promote specific rural locations in Japan to a global audience, highlighting the role of creative digital content in regional economic development.