When this trope is in effect, Real Men don't cry, no matter what. Not while facing the camera at least. In older anime, stolen food or an Armor-Piercing Slap may still evoke Ocular Gushers, but tears of sadness would always come from well hidden eyes or as a Sparkling Stream of Tears over a man's turned shoulder or even in a spontaneous downpour of rain. Sometimes it's passed off as only sand in their eyes. Sometimes the man will flatly deny crying, even as he's doing so. There is a single exception: one single tear is allowed at the retirement ceremony of his favorite sporting icon.