Many in Japan Say They’ll Keep Masking Up

Mask wearing when you have an illness has been a part of Japanese culture dating back to the so-called Spanish Flu. But a new poll bears evidence that the practice might not only stick around but be getting stronger.

The waning mask habit

As most people who aren’t cave hermits realize, we’ve been in a bit of a pandemic the past couple years. (Actually, that’s unfair to cave hermits: even they’re getting vaccinated[1].) At the start of the outbreak, medical experts in nations around the world recommended masking as an effective method to slow the spread.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan. I’m well used to seeing masked people riding the subway or working next to me in the office. It always struck me as a great idea that my fellow Americans would likely never adopt. I was in the states when the pandemic broke, however, and was pleasantly shocked when most everyone around me masked up.

(And yes, plenty of people refused to wear masks and made it a “thing”. What can I say? Rebelling against authority for no meaningful reason is a quintessentially American disease.)

The habit, however, didn’t last long. Moments after a federal judge struck down the US federal mask mandate, airline passengers started ripping them off[2].

In my country’s defense, not everyone agrees with this change. According to Pew Research, 57% of Americans say masks should still be required on planes and public transportation[3].

Poll: Yeah we’re keeping our masks on, thanks

Not that Japan isn’t susceptible to such craziness. The country has seen its own fair share of anti-maskers and COVID-19 deniers. The most infamous is Hiratsuka Masayuki, who campaigned for public office on the slogan “Covid’s just a cold” (コロナは風邪)[4].

However, Hiratsuka’s antics only netted him 0.15% at the polls. And his credibility is pretty much in tatters since it came out that he impregnated a middle school student[5].

You can’t make this stuff up, folks.

Suffice it to say that most people in Japan aren’t on board with the anti-masking rhetoric. Hiratsuka’s antics only netted him 0.15% at the polls. And his credibility is pretty much in tatters since it came out that he impregnated a middle school student In fact, according to a recent survey by Yomiuri Shinbun, some 41% of people surveyed said they want to remain masked “as much as possible”. Another 49% said they’ll mask up “when it’s necessary”. Only a rock-bottom 9% say they don’t want to wear a mask at all.

Mind you, that poll came before the announcement that the Kanto region of Japan (which includes Tokyo) had formally entered the rainy season (梅雨; tsuyu). Tsuyu is not only rainy. It’s also miserably hot and humid. As a result, some people find themselves doing a “mask dance” – putting it on in crowded areas only to take it off again once they’ve gained some distance from others[7].

Thankfully, COVID-19 infection rates continue to drop in Japan. As of this writing, they’ve dipped below 10,000 a day for the first time since January. But the risk of infection is high – and the consequences severe, especially for those who are immuno-compromised. I imagine that, no matter how hot it gets this summer, residents will be doing the mask shuffle for the rest of the season.

Footnotes

[1] Serbian cave hermit gets Covid-19 jab, urges others to follow. France24

[2] No, we shouldn’t celebrate dropping mask mandates on flights. Here’s why. lonely planet

[3] 57% of Americans say masks should be required on airplanes and public transportation. Pew Research

[4] Hiratsuka Masayuki. Wikipedia JP

[5] 「コロナは風邪」反ワクチン党首が中学2年生を妊娠・出産させた！　警察が家宅捜索、少女の家族とトラブルに【国民主権党・平塚正幸氏】. FLASH

[6] マスク「できるだけ着けたい」４１％、「着けたくない」９％…読売世論調査. Yomiuri Shinbun

[7] マスク　外す？外さない？不要局面でも「人目が」. Sankei Shinbun