Dotanbatan
先輩
- 25 Feb 2014
- 319
- 64
- 44
The masking of Japan !!!
Everyone who lives here in Japan cannot help but notice the ever increasing percentage of the population who wear surgical type masks on a daily basis.
Current annual sales of these masks in Japan run to more than $230,000,000.... which is just astounding.
So not including the people who need to use a mask to perform their work, as far as I can gather, the wearers of these masks fall into one or more of these categories.
1. Those who have a cold or other infectious illness that they don't want to spread to others.
2. Those who suffer from hay fever or an allergy and want protection or relief.
3. Those who want to protect themselves from pollution and toxins.
4. Those who want to protect themselves from other people's germs.
5. Those who want to hide behind the mask and avoid interacting with others.
6. Those who want to conceal their face due to vanity or lack of self-confidence.
7. Those who want to accentuate their attractiveness by highlighting their eyes.
8. Those who wear the new fashionable versions of masks as a trend.
I have worn these types of masks on 2 occasions - once for #1. and once for #3. I didn't like wearing them (and won't any more).
I know a lot has been written about this phenomenon, but I'm interested to hear the opinions of other forum members on the popularity of these masks in Japan.
Personally, I hate them. I think they are anti-social …… You cannot see the expression on people's faces or hear their voices clearly if they wear masks. It's hard enough to begin with to read the body language of Japanese people, but this makes it next to impossible.
I can accept those who use them for #1 and #2, understand #3 and #4 for occasional use, but feel like tearing them off the faces of those who wear them for #5 to #8.
Everyone who lives here in Japan cannot help but notice the ever increasing percentage of the population who wear surgical type masks on a daily basis.
Current annual sales of these masks in Japan run to more than $230,000,000.... which is just astounding.
So not including the people who need to use a mask to perform their work, as far as I can gather, the wearers of these masks fall into one or more of these categories.
1. Those who have a cold or other infectious illness that they don't want to spread to others.
2. Those who suffer from hay fever or an allergy and want protection or relief.
3. Those who want to protect themselves from pollution and toxins.
4. Those who want to protect themselves from other people's germs.
5. Those who want to hide behind the mask and avoid interacting with others.
6. Those who want to conceal their face due to vanity or lack of self-confidence.
7. Those who want to accentuate their attractiveness by highlighting their eyes.
8. Those who wear the new fashionable versions of masks as a trend.
I have worn these types of masks on 2 occasions - once for #1. and once for #3. I didn't like wearing them (and won't any more).
I know a lot has been written about this phenomenon, but I'm interested to hear the opinions of other forum members on the popularity of these masks in Japan.
Personally, I hate them. I think they are anti-social …… You cannot see the expression on people's faces or hear their voices clearly if they wear masks. It's hard enough to begin with to read the body language of Japanese people, but this makes it next to impossible.
I can accept those who use them for #1 and #2, understand #3 and #4 for occasional use, but feel like tearing them off the faces of those who wear them for #5 to #8.