In Japan, it’s not uncommon to come across somebody wearing a face mask. In fact, at my high school, around half to two thirds of the students will wear a surgical type mask throughout the day, including my home room teacher. Whilst in Australia wearing a surgical mask in public is only done if you are, in fact, a surgeon, it is the social norm in Japan, and here are some reasons why.

Before I begin, I would like to note that these reasons are purely based on what other people have told me, those living in Japan. Whilst there may be some large universal reason for wearing surgical masks, these are the reasons most commonly given by my fellow students at 学主因.

It helps keep the moisture ‘in’
Apparently when you breathe out you lose a ton of moisture from your body {again, not saying this is a fact, just folklore}, and this can lead to you becoming dehydrated. Like how some Japanese people have infusers or moisturizer machines in their room – those tiny box-like things you see at spas that eject steam – my friend tells me that the mask can help to trap this moisture, and prevent your skin from becoming dry.

To prevent other people from becoming sick
If you have a cold, wearing a mask to work or school is the charitable thing to do. Whilst missing school is unacceptable unless you are on death’s door, wearing a mask is an easy alternative. It allows you to complete your set tasks whilst keeping the germs in. And I can understand that this is good for your co-workers or fellow students, but I do wonder about the effect that it has on the wearer? Does trapping germs in really aid a speedy recovery? Perhaps this is a necessary evil.

To avoid becoming sick yourself
This seems pretty self-explanatory, and it makes sense. But I’d never really grasped the importance of this aspect before a train ride the other day. Prior to this train ride, I was sceptical about the real need for face masks as a way of protecting yourself – surely exposure to the elements can help to develop a better immune system or something {though I’ve done no research on the matter}. 

Now, I can say I kind of understand it, in winter at least. Because of the nature of the public transport system, you are always kept in close quarters with fellow commuters. At first, I found this to be a bit weird, but interesting and often hilarious. But when I found myself pressed up against a man who was coughing all over me, with my arm resting near a women sneezing, and a woman leaning on me {!} who had a cold and was on her phone so couldn’t be bothered holding herself up – I found myself wishing that I had a mask.

So I get it, or, at least I think I do. To somebody who lives in a totally different environment, wearing surgical masks as a part of everyday life can seem almost weird. While I am by no means trying to persuade you to begin this trend, I feel that it can be justified. And I hope that you have a slightly better understanding of the part that surgical masks play in day-to-day Japanese life.

-H