I know that a lot of people see people in masks and think contamination (or perhaps construction workers). In Japan, however, it is quite normal to roam the streets wearing a mask.

But why?

There are a few reasons, but the original reason is to prevent infecting other people with your cold. In Japan, it is considered rude to not put on a mask if you are ill. Protecting those around you is very important in Japanese society because of the group mentality that the Japanese have.

Related Post: The Time I Got Dengue Fever

Work Reasons

The Japanese work long hours and often do overtime as an extra service to their company. It is generally frowned upon to not do a certain amount of overtime every week, and taking time off when you’re ill is not usually done.

Japanese companies normally offer their employees ten days off per year. But, although ten days are received, the Japanese don’t tend to use all their holiday time because they want to show their company how hard they are working. If they take a day off because they’re unwell, that comes out of their yearly holiday allowance. Obviously, people want to use their limited holiday time to actually have fun. So, instead of taking time off to rest and heal when sick, they do their best and wear a mask.

Related Post: Company Dormitories in Japan – The Secret Life of Salarymen

Flu Season

During winter when the risk of catching the flu and other nasties is higher, many Japanese people will wear a mask to prevent catching something from others too. In this case, they normally only put on a mask in confined, crowded places, such as trains.

Face-heating Technology

The Japanese will also wear a mask on cold days to keep warm by letting their breath heat up their faces. I normally forget about this hack and only get a lovely warm face when I am coughing and sneezing everywhere and wear a mask out of politeness. I should carry masks with me more often…

The Walk of Shame

Japanese women will sometimes wear a mask if they have not put on make-up that day or if they don’t feel they look their best.

A friend of mine used to wear a mask when doing the walk of shame after a night out to prevent people judging or recognising her. This goes the same for hostesses after they have finished their shifts.

Related Post: Japanese Girl Bars – The Shady World of Hostess Clubs

Another friend wears a mask every time she has an acne attack because it’s easier to hide her face from the world than use make-up and worsen her skin.

Fashion Statements

I noticed that this was more common in Korea, but masks are available in different colours too! In Japan, the most common colour I have seen people wearing after white is black. Usually young men and women wear these as a fashion statement when ill (or perhaps they’re not even ill and are simply wearing them to look cool).

There are also different patterned masks for children to wear too! For example, Pokémon-, Doraemon- or Anpanman-patterned masks are pretty popular among young children. It’s the same as putting on a patterned plaster (Band-Aid) when you’re a child in the UK.

Don’t Delay! Wear A Mask Today!

I actually did wear a mask on the train in the UK once because I had a horrific cough and had just flown back from Japan for Christmas. I had to wear a mask on the plane and it was also freezing in the UK, so I kept it on.

Needless to say, I received many startled glances and one man even called across the train to me.

“We don’t have the plague, you know!”

“No, but I might!” I called back.

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Hope you enjoyed this brief look into Japanese lifestyle and mask-wearing! If you see someone wearing a mask in public, don’t judge him or her harshly. They are probably just trying to be nice people and protect you.

じゃあね！

Jade xxx