Wearing masks to protect against the spread of infectious disease came to Japan in 1919 with the outbreak of the Spanish Flu. Oddly, it was inspired by efforts in the US to control the pandemic. Following the second World War, their popularity grew as they evolved into a sort of symbol of social etiquette. By the 1990s masks were being widely used to combat the "national illness" of cedar pollinosis (hay fever). The SARS epidemic of 2003 cemented the mask as a permanent part of Japanese attire.
In the West, traditionally it is only doctors and maybe nurses who wear paper surgical masks. So my first impression was, cool, I look like a surgeon.
After about 30 minutes though I became aware of how the mask inhibits normal respiration, and I began thinking of the higher concentration of carbon dioxide I was probably inhaling. Of course there is a direct correlation between high levels of CO2 and drowsiness, sweating, high blood pressure and an increased heart rate.
5% of what humans exhale with each breath is water vapour. This usually dissipates in the atmosphere. However, a mask effectively blocks these particles, so the vapour begins to collect and the mask becomes moist. Not at all pleasant.
A germ mask will stay in place if you don't speak. But any exercise of the vocal chords and the mask begins to move. Normal speech involves not just the movement of the mouth, but indeed the whole face. In no time my mask had slipped off my nose and was resting on my upper lip. Perhaps the problem is the size and verticality of the gaijin nose compared to the less pronounced Japanese nose.
It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul. But the mouth is just as, if not more, expressive than the eyes, and certainly easier to read. When you put on a germ mask you acquire a certain anonymity. Just as bandits in the Old West used to wear bandanas over their face to conceal their identity, the mask has the same effect. With my fogged over eyeglasses (another annoying side effect) and mask I could disappear. Ha! I could go on a crime spree. From surgeon to outlaw.
I have my doubts about the effectiveness of germ masks. It seems reasonable to assume that a mask that is completely impermeable to microscopic germs would lead to suffocation. I think it is a largely symbolic gesture showing respect for and solidarity with your fellow citizens, which is not a bad thing. But all those beautiful Japanese faces covered up. Now that is a shame.
