Mask Wearing in Japan - From Protection to Fashion Trends
In Japan you can see people wearing face masks everywhere, if it's on the street, in a shop or right next to you in the train. Does that mean a lot of Japanese are suffering from a contagious disease? The answer is definitely NO!
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One of the many reasons why Japanese people put on masks when they go outside is allergy. About one fourth of the Japanese population suffers from the so-called kafunshō (hay fever). There are about 60 types of plants and trees that cause hay fever in Japan, but the pollen from the Japanese cedar, sugi, and Japanese cypress, hinoki, is most common. Starting in late February the battle with a runny nose and sneezing can last until the end of September.
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Hay fever season is mask season. Not only do the masks have filters that block pollen from entering, but they also help hiding your runny nose from being seen by others.
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Another reason is of course the flu. Once you catch a cold and still need to go outside, it is considered good manners to show consideration towards the others by wearing a mask. The Japanese often go to work even if they are ill, which makes the mask a necessary item for many working people. During times of influenza and flu outbreaks the mask is used as a prevention tool, too. Especially in a large city like Tokyo, with its crowded streets and trains, wearing a mask will keep you safe from the bacteria and viruses that are flying around.
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For girls, it seems that the masks make their faces look smaller, which is considered to be a cute characteristic in Japan. While some girls simply want to hide their no-makeup faces. Also, covering an unlovely blemish has never been so easy! For men it became common to wear a mask, if they forgot or had no time to shave their beard, since it is part of the business etiquette in Japan to have a clean shaven face. Others might have had a solid meal and a cigarette in the lunch break and don't want the boss and customers to notice the smell.
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For the young people who are struggling with social awkwardness and shyness, hiding their faces in public by wearing a mask can sometimes help gaining some private space or being left alone.
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Winter in Japan can be really cold and the air gets very dry. Therefore a mask functions as a natural face heater in the freezing cold. Your own breath will keep your nose and cheeks warm and moisturized, which brings us to this not less important reason of wearing a mask: warmth.
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The most worn type is the plain white medical mask. It can be purchased anywhere in Japan at convenience stores, supermarkets and drugstores. They usually come in a pack of seven to ten pieces of disposable masks for a price of 200 - 400 yen. Some of the masks are specially made to prevent glasses from fogging up, while some are mint or flower-scented. But they also come in different sizes, as well as colors and designs, like this black ninja-style mask, with an optional charcoal filter, or the fashionable leopard print mask.
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The gonoturn masks range goes from animal masks, such as little bears, pigs, cats, dogs, to famous character masks such as Hello Kitty, Chibi Maruko-chan, the frog Kerokerokeroppi, the Line characters Brown and Cony, prints from the anime "Evangelion" or inspired by famous Japanese wrestling teams.
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One of the many reasons why Japanese people put on masks when they go outside is allergy. About one fourth of the Japanese population suffers from the so-called kafunshō (hay fever). There are about 60 types of plants and trees that cause hay fever in Japan, but the pollen from the Japanese cedar, sugi, and Japanese cypress, hinoki, is most common. Starting in late February the battle with a runny nose and sneezing can last until the end of September.
Hay fever season is mask season. Not only do the masks have filters that block pollen from entering, but they also help hiding your runny nose from being seen by others.
Another reason is of course the flu. Once you catch a cold and still need to go outside, it is considered good manners to show consideration towards the others by wearing a mask. The Japanese often go to work even if they are ill, which makes the mask a necessary item for many working people. During times of influenza and flu outbreaks the mask is used as a prevention tool, too. Especially in a large city like Tokyo, with its crowded streets and trains, wearing a mask will keep you safe from the bacteria and viruses that are flying around.
For girls, it seems that the masks make their faces look smaller, which is considered to be a cute characteristic in Japan. While some girls simply want to hide their no-makeup faces. Also, covering an unlovely blemish has never been so easy! For men it became common to wear a mask, if they forgot or had no time to shave their beard, since it is part of the business etiquette in Japan to have a clean shaven face. Others might have had a solid meal and a cigarette in the lunch break and don't want the boss and customers to notice the smell.
For the young people who are struggling with social awkwardness and shyness, hiding their faces in public by wearing a mask can sometimes help gaining some private space or being left alone.
Winter in Japan can be really cold and the air gets very dry. Therefore a mask functions as a natural face heater in the freezing cold. Your own breath will keep your nose and cheeks warm and moisturized, which brings us to this not less important reason of wearing a mask: warmth.
The most worn type is the plain white medical mask. It can be purchased anywhere in Japan at convenience stores, supermarkets and drugstores. They usually come in a pack of seven to ten pieces of disposable masks for a price of 200 - 400 yen. Some of the masks are specially made to prevent glasses from fogging up, while some are mint or flower-scented. But they also come in different sizes, as well as colors and designs, like this black ninja-style mask, with an optional charcoal filter, or the fashionable leopard print mask.
The gonoturn masks range goes from animal masks, such as little bears, pigs, cats, dogs, to famous character masks such as Hello Kitty, Chibi Maruko-chan, the frog Kerokerokeroppi, the Line characters Brown and Cony, prints from the anime "Evangelion" or inspired by famous Japanese wrestling teams.
22-25, M
