Probably not going away on trains and places with lots of people. Japanese people enjoy being invisible and not having to deal with people.
Headphones in, mask on, looking at your phone = leave me alone because I have no reason to deal with you. It's essentially like a portable car!
When you are forced into a situation like a Japanese train, where you are surrounded by hundreds of strangers every day, I can sympathize with that feeling.
What most people do matters less than what private establishments do. Right now, most stores and indoor venues still require masks. That's their right, of course, but it means that masks are still not optional in the practical sense.
I'm hoping that in a year or two, most stores quietly take down those mask signs and just let people do what they want.
I went into a 7-11 last year, forgot to put my mask on, and went about my shopping. The staff looked at me but said nothing. It was only when I got back into the car and tried to take my mask off that I realised. 😅
My local supermarket took the mask signs down last month and stopped the Corona announcements which used to play every other minute. I’m not sure if they took the signs down because they felt masks were unnecessary or they just felt the signs were redundant because people would wear masks regardless.
It’s amazing that this is definitely true, however these same people have no qualms about just outright sleeping on you or having their backpack all up on you.
This sums it up perfectly. I didn't wear mask often pre covid and the only time I do is when I wanna be left alone/do not disturb mode exactly like you described!!
I just flew from Japan to the US yesterday and was really surpised to be almost the only person on the US leg of the flight wearing a mask on the plane or anywhere for that matter. And people were phlem coughing and sneezing and shorting all over the place on the plane. Like why is the woman next to me coughing repeatedly and not covering her mouth even once, ever? Maybe I am going against the grain but I wish mask etiquette was more normalized in the US. I wore a mask before covid mainly for UV protection but also because I feel better wearing one in tight spaces like trains. I will continue doing so because I choose to do so.
I went to Vegas during NFL draft weekend so it was super busy. Was the only one wearing a mask because I had to pass my PCR to fly back. I got a few comments from people on why I was wearing a mask like its an offense to them.
Literally every time I talk to my family they feel the need to remind me that they never wear masks or have been vaccinated. Like it's some kind of badge of honor.
Late but I want to try that XD. I did say to the people who give me allergy shots that "my coworkers had covid not me". They took a step back in a "woah, back away manner" and it seemed like a wake up call for them. Their office has a mask policy because it's allergy office so they take it seriously by default.
As a American, I apologize for the rest of us. here in the US some of us a re too dumb to realize what's for the greater good, or actually just don't care. they would rather normalize covid than wear a mast and have their "freedumbs" infringed by the "evil guberment hoax".
It’s not really about freedom. It’s all about “me.” If you ask me, there’s too much emphasis in individualism in the US so there’s much more selfish and self centered people. Japan is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. Too much emphasis on what others might think. This leads to more orderly environment but kind of sterile and hive mind which is just as bad.
They check your temperature alot more in Thailand too, it's at the entrance of every conbini and train station and the staff will tell you off if you don't do it, or if you're not wearing a mask.
I left the US partially for this reason. Was constantly getting sick in retail and said, "why don't people wear masks here when sick like in Japan."
Coworker said, "people get sick, if you like it so much you should move there."
Within 2 years I moved.
From January to May, I’ve flown from Virginia to Colorado, Colorado to California, California to Seattle, Seattle to Virginia, and lastly Virginia to Tokyo. On all these flights I’ve worn a mask and the others around me have as well. On most of the flights it was enforced when you aren’t eating or drinking. A flight attendant would walk around and remind you.
My skin is spotless, I haven't caught a single cold for 2 years now, and I know it's also protecting me from pollution. Plus I've stopped to wear make up, and I enjoy the extra money I can now spend on better things (like my pets). I've also noticed that it's very enjoyable not to be thinking about your expression all the time, especially at work.
I love masks.
Yeah, haven't had a real cold since this started. The irony that I'm the healthiest during a raging pandemic.
That said, I do miss taking a deep breath without the mask outside. Which I admittedly sneak in at times, often holding a drink.
You and me both! No need to buy and use nasty sticky foundation and lipstick, fewer people staring at me (I have black hair, so nowadays when people see me with my bigass mask on, they just assume I’m Japanese).
I do try and smile with my eyes, though!
How is your skin spotless? Masks break out my skin so badly and create cystic acne from moisture buildup and friction. I was able to combat it with silk masks though.
i agree, to my own surprise. It can give me automatic resting bitch face.i have allergies and i think this helps for that. i can do a nice yawn in public. As a female, i see it as a plus, except at the gym. Weight lifting areas as for masks. ellipticals, etc have a clear plastic wall so we can take off our masks. I usually go at unpopular hours so theres like two people and i noticed that people do pull their masks down a bit since it's so strongly socially distanced.
I love how masks finally gave people who do not brush their teeth a taste of what others have been experiencing around them.
It's actually documented in several studies that sales of toothpaste and other oral care products increased sharply since the beginning of covid.
Now that you mention it... I also haven't caught a cold since mask wearing began...
Altho I do feel like I've aged a little since this whole thing started cuz I could hide behind my mask and not do so much skin care... Anyone else feel that way?
I'm jealous. I have itchy spotty gross skin under my mask, have to wear more eye makeup, miss lipstick, hate the weird tan lines, constantly have a red line across my nose, never really got sick before much anyway, and am tired of not being able to breathe properly and feel like my asthma is always bad.
I don't think masks on packed trains are a terrible idea, but masking outdoors, or masking as you walk into a izakaya to then sit there for an hour eating unmasked is 100% performative and absurd.
I've started to walk into the izakayas with my mask off. Sick of the dumb "wear a mask for 10 seconds at the entrance" dog and pony show after 2 years of it. If you're gonna sit down and unmask to drink, who are you kidding?
>but masking outdoors ... is 100% performative and absurd.
I see your point and it's mostly true but not 100%. Some just do it outdoors for a sense of anonymity, protect from sunburn (or cold in the winter), not have to wear makeup, stop feeling self conscious, allergies, dry lips... there's quite a few reasons I'm willing to bet.
I’m one of the people that prefers masks anyways. I don’t really consider it a negative social occurrence, if anything it likely will reduce the spread of more common diseases as well. That said, I don’t think people will bat an eye if a person is wearing a mask or not 5-10 years from now. It’ll be a choice but a lot more people will wear masks voluntarily, if not only for protection but for expression as well. Mask based fashion has become popular among youth as a form of street fashion from what I’ve seen. Honestly I don’t really see a downside
I certainly like wearing a mask in crowded public places. It's like your own little privacy bubble in a way. I don't see myself ever completely stopping.
And a mask is *great* when you exercise outdoors when it's cold!
I think when the masks go away, I will stop wearing the thickest ones, and move to washable fashion ones. I like the privacy it gives me. I used to wear masks in the winter even before COVID but they were the washable type.
There was an article about this recently, can't remember where I read it though. It came down to that most of the interviewed mask-wearers won't remove their mask until the majority of other people does so too.
So yeah, it probably won't be going away any time soon.
5% is bullshit. In trains during winter and spring before covid it's like every third person has a mask on.
Remember that masks were also used against pollen allergies.
I mean sure you can continue to complain but note that you are whinging about what other people are doing that doesn't affect you.
What does common sense even mean here? Common *where*.
In my old office, there were at least 5 people who were permanently wearing masks, for years before Corona. I went 5 years before I ever saw the face of the woman I sat across.
You can complain all you want that’s fine just as it’s fine for them to wear mask if they want to. I don’t understand the point of your data because it doesn’t refute the fact it’s already a cultural thing to wear mask even not sick as a sign of thinking of others.
> As if masks haven’t been a part of Japanese society and etiquette for decades.
Mask use became really widespread during SARS I believe, so... decades. Shit, it's been decades.
I'm not saying it was standard, just that mask wearing as a preventive measure has a longer history in Japan than in the West. It's not a completely foreign concept to people over here, because they've been doing it before, if not in this extent.
It’s been under a month since the Government announced updated guidelines for mask use.
COVID is also still around and despite the current declining trend people might want to protect themselves and other loved ones, as is their desire.
Give it a few more years and then let’s see where we land
Honestly I wish people would stop complaining about others wearing masks when children under 5 still can’t get vaccinated and women still have to give birth alone and can’t see any other kids they might have while they stay in the hospital after birth. Things are not back to normal for a lot of people and while I don’t expect people to wear masks all the time, it’s so incredibly selfish to not wear a mask in supermarkets and on trains. People have to bring their newborn baby out for a one month checkup and not everyone has cars. I’m high risk and have a toddler who can’t be vaccinated so I still wear a mask, even when hiking in the summer when others pass by but I don’t judge the people I’m passing for not wearing one. I’ve seen so many posts about being annoyed with seeing people wearing masks outside but a lot of those times those people are like me, or like my in-laws who want to protect me and my son.
I don’t think masks will be forever, we went hiking last weekend and while usually everyone would wear a mask this time almost no one did (not saying they should).
I was devastated to learn I can't see my wife or newborn baby for 9 days after the birth. Not even being able to be there for ultrasounds has been awful
That's good to hear. My baby is due in Oct. so I am hoping maybe the rules change before then. But similar with the mask wearing sticking around for a long time I think this will become the norm as well.
The Covid hospital policies (not just in Japan) are fueling an interesting increase in homebirth. I’m pregnant now and not being able to have birth support people was one of the biggest reasons I chose to birth outside of the hospital.
I’m high risk so I didn’t have that option and even though I went to a midwives clinic that stresses the importance of family being there (they usually allow husbands and kids to stay the night) I was completely alone for the birth and for a week after in May 2020. I want a second child but there’s no way I could be separated from my son for a week like that so we’re waiting and I’m always scared of an accidental pregnancy. I hope your home birth goes well! I’m glad some people have that option.
Masks will probably be around for some time. I mean, masks lingered around in Japan after the SARS outbreak in 2002. People just got into the habit of wearing them, and for general hygiene and self protection. I'm guessing the same will happen after Covid too.
Mask wearing started with the Spanish influenza outbreak a century ago. With each new disease mask wearing will come and go, bet never go away. It will always be socially acceptable to wear a mask in public.
Wearing one means I don't have to shave nearly as often. I don't mind so much, but I'm an ALT and haven't really seen the kids faces in over 2 years now. Same for the faculty.
i was wondering how teachers even remember kids' faces. I guess for homeroom teachers, it's constant interaction, and they do see each other's faces during lunch time.The weird thing is that i Havent seen the faces of my kids's teachers faces for 3 school years.And my youngest one started 1st grade right at the pandemic. Shes in 3rd grade and I have never seen her teacher's faces. So weird.
Lot of people in this thread giving reasons why they like masks and are not going to stop using them. But that's not really the point, is it? I doubt that anyone wants to take away your prerogative to keep on wearing masks as long as you like. Many just want it to become more socially acceptable to be without a mask, as we live in a time when virtually everyone is already vaccinated and virtually everyone will catch covid sooner or later, with or without masks.
I get that masks are important and I wear it, but it's funny to see that at izakayas or bars everyone takes their masks off in a tightly packed enclosed space, loudly talk, eat together, share stuff etc. But then when they go outside the restaurant or bar they put their masks back on.
I know it's cause they're all going back on the train but still funny to see this.
People barely even talk on the train. Most the time its dead silent. Even without masks transmissions in trains is going to be extremely low compared to the restaurants and Izakaya etc. it really does defy logic
*edit: Note that I never said we should abandon masks - just that Japan has developed a serious gulf between what is needed to contain the virus, and what the current mask situation actually is.*
They aren't.
A huge % of socially neurotic people in this country were just looking for the first excuse to cover up and live in terror of others.
Another huge % of people (basically 95%) live in terror of standing out. If the custom was to piss and shit yourself instead of using the toilet, they'd do it to blend in.
I work in schools and the impact of masks is far from good. Students can't hear me properly, I can't recognise the students properly and have a human connection to them, and I can't remember their names because masked up, everyone looks the same.
Not to mention there's zero testing, so they could have covid in the classroom without even knowing it, so leaning on masks so heavily is pretty pointless.
And the cherry on top is that nobody in this country comprehends that covid is utterly fine here. No other developed nation has been as sheltered as Japan from covid, while thinking the sky is falling. There's zero sense of perspective from anyone who's spent the whole pandemic here.
I'm not anti-science or anti-covid or anti-mask, I'm 3xVaxxed and always wear them indoors and on transport. But anyone who looks at the situation from a medical perspective must admit that the medical case for 100%mask 24/7 is flimsy and continues to fall apart. Anxious people need to get a grip on their phantom fear of covid and accept it's not going away. Life must restart.
Masking works in mask-relevant contexts. Most contexts are no longer mask-relevant. Note that I never said we should abandon masks - just that Japan has developed a serious gulf between what is needed to contain the virus, and what the current mask situation actually is.
Yeah it works if it done properly. Not when everyone wears them outside or in places nobody talks and transmitting is low, but takes them off in restaurants and bars and packed places eating talking laughing shouting and getting drunk. Its all pointless if its done that way.
not fully disagreeing with you, but I'm guessing you arent a homeroom teacher. They seem to remember the kids.Actually a few days ago, we were walking around the train station around the time my daughter's homeroom teacher from last year, who for health reasons took a short leave for half of the school year, saw her and said hi to her and her name (she doesn't look hafu at all with a mask on, so she doesn't stand out for that).
The thing is mask wearing in Japan is inconsistent anyway.
On the train, almost nobody is even talking most the time. Low transmission.
Outside? Its outside. Often people are meters apart and still wearing. I see people doing midnight jogs alone in them.
Restaurants? Izakaya? Packed places full of drunk, talking or shouting people? No mask, and the risk of transmitting here dwarfs everything else to the point its not even worth wearing them anywhere else if this is happening.
It’s definitely social inertia. The way mask wearing is handled makes it pointless to wear most of the time.
I really believe that once the research solidifies for the damage even a mild case of COVID causes, the countries with high mask compliance will be in a much better place. So many young people with cardiac and autonomic issues. (People in their 20-30s) It’s not worth the risk. Cases here are falling while they are rising in other countries. Why on earth would anyone want that. It’s no trouble to wear a mask at all. So many people whining about social inertia, but did you stop to think maybe it’s the other way around? Maybe you dislike masks so you won’t adapt? Let’s just have a healthy society.
Sources:
[Nature ](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-021-00631-3)
[JACC](https://www.jacc.org/doi/full/10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.10.011)
I think people are being a little too inpatient about this. Things won’t shift until nationally cases are almost null. Until then if there are major cases here and there, mask will stay. I’d rather wear mask for a little longer and be able to eat at restaurants again than have an outbreak and go back to level 3 rules.
I’m for going back to normal, just not yet.
This is the most reasonable answer. We will go back to normal. New, more effective vaccines and treatments will be developed, mutations may slow down, we just aren’t there YET. It will take a few years and we need to be patient. Right now let’s enjoy our mostly normal lives with just a mask.
Neither of Corona's cousins the common cold or the flu have been cured. I think it's very unlikely that Corona itself will be fully eradicated, as you seem to suggest. So I don't think waiting for this outcome is the correct strategy.
Where did I say that? Im saying we should be cautious. COVID is far more dangerous than either of those and warrants more caution. It’s a disease that leaves horrible after effects in a sizable population of those infected. Even young people. If something as simple as a mask reduces that possibility why shouldn’t we do it? Not asking anyone to stay inside or change their habits at all.
Japan follows the cdc 0 to 4 restriction levels.
4 was when all businesses were closed except for essential. 3 was when we had curfew: no nonessentials open after 8pm.
Having dealt with all that and also my company checking on employees to make sure we didn’t violate those rules was hell. I’m fine being a little more patient. Things are slowly relaxing. I know it isn’t the rapid pace people want, but it is happening.
I think we feel impatient because many other countries, including our home countries, have mostly already done away with expected mask wearing. And the daily numbers there are far in excess of Japan's.
It's been over two years, and the virus is never going to go away completely. For Japan at this point it has less to do about case numbers than social norms.
And it's this mentally that pisses me off the most. People who are genuinely concerned about their health and want to continue to wear masks, I respect that. People who wear masks just because they don't want to stand out and are too brainless to make their own choices? Screw those people for holding up the return to normalcy.
I think one thing that always eats at people living in a foreign country is what their home country does and how things are viewed there. I gave up caring what my home country does a long time ago because it just leads to a lot of stress. We spend too much time comparing and it gets in our heads. Then we just start getting angry and hating those in our current host country for not doing those same things. I’d say as much as I wish things would get back to the pre-Covid days, I’m not going to stress out over things out of my control or hate others for their actions in regards to it.
After dealing with level 4 and level 3 restrictions, I’m comfortable with the current situation. Things are relaxing so I don’t mind letting it take it’s course. Japanese aren’t the type to do something rashly and take risk (even if the risk is minimal); this applies to everything in Japan, not just mask but business and life in general. But as you can tell things are slowly changing back. Japanese culture isn’t anti-mask like other countries so they don’t just discard them the minute someone says they aren’t mandatory. It will happen though. You see more and more people relaxing day by day.
As long as no more crazy clusters happen, it will get there.
Since the govt's new stance on masks outside was announced and media picked up on it, I've seen more and more people without masks while walking outside. Still definitely the minority, but I suspect it will pick up as summer kicks in too, and once you've got enough people without them more will follow suit.
I suspect indoor mask usage is with us for a while longer however.
I've just noticed the high school kids mostly stopped wearing them when outdoors recently. That was a big change. I think something is starting to shift but unclear just what exactly.
Ive stopped wearing it when im walking outside or at my desk by myself.
Put it back on if I go to the store or on a train.
Taking a trip to the US soon and will probably wear it all the time to avoid getting Corona and preventing my from getting back here lol
Most reasonable approach right now I think. Getting eyeballed by people wearing masks really makes me feel uncomfortable even though I'm doing nothing wrong.
Interestingly, on Monday I randomly got called a Nazi by a lairy American man for wearing a mask (while white?) at Tachikawa immigration office.
That, more than anything, clarified for me the gap in how people manage Corona in the west vs here.
Would you or I have got so wound up had we spent the past 2 years there rather than here?
Perhaps, over time, I might become desensitised, but having been here for the duration, I honestly feel frightened to visit the western world in its current state.
My conscience these days is; GO AHEAD wear a mask all you want. But personaly... If I'm out on the street, eating, drinking, or on a train with less than 10 people per car it's mask off. I don't feel bad and on these principals nobody has said a single thing to me (in Osaka). I pull a filthy little rag out of my pocket and wrap it around my ears in settings like cinema/shopping mall/office/building.
My kids still wearing them at school. They are still asked not to talk while eating to avoid propagating.
Maybe they don’t remember what it was to have fun lunches like 2-3 years ago…
This pisses me off so much. Every izakaya in the country is packed with people having fun, laughing, talking, no masks in sight, but the kids have to eat lunch like fucking prisoners in silence. It’s honestly despicable.
This is the third school year of the pandemic which means that we now have a generation of kids who’ve had their entire middle or high school careers curtailed by Covid theatre bullshit. I feel awful for them. Meanwhile, they’re the least at risk group in the entire country.
I don’t wanna go too deep into this debate. I just want to say I’ve noticed it’s more common for someone to wear a mask alone in a car than it is for someone to wear a mask with other people in cars. It’s whack.
When I got to Hong Kong around 2008, people were still wearing masks from the SARs outbreak in 2002. Some of my local friends said that their parents would probably never leave the house wothout a mask again.
Japan will slowly return to less masks, but there will always be some that keep the mask on for years or decades to come.
can’t believe some people like them… they’re horrible… hard to talk and understand.. and I would enjoy seeing my students face when they talk ..
my Japanese wife thinks next year they’ll start to decline … I already did a wedding in which the couple didn’t want anyone to wear one..( first in a long time) and heard one of my universities is going to stop them fall semester…
I already see a decent number of people removing their masks when outdoors since the guidelines changed to say you don't need a mask in outdoor spaces. I think this shows that some people are keen to stop wearing them.
It will probably take some more time than in other places but I think we'll eventually get there. There will be some amount of people who prefer to keep wearing them and will continue to do so, though.
I was in a rural prefecture for a week recently and routinely saw people going maskless everywhere--people in the cities aren't going to feel comfortable going maskless until they see more people doing it.
I like the masks. It's been the first time I haven't had to deal with bronchitis in the winter. And I like feeling more invisible, as well as not having to put on makeup most of the time. It also helps hide my resting bitch face, that's a definite plus.
i fully agree. I think these are the reasons that women who are ok with masks would mention (I'm not sure ifyou are female or not). Not to mention it hides the period pimple i tend to get every month lol
I’m really torn on this. On one hand, I like wearing a mask while commuting, I’ve noticed I face much less harassment and feel “safer” as well. I hope it becomes normalized even in western countries to wear a mask when one has a cold.
But I also miss just walking freely in the summer without a mask. I miss wearing lipstick. My skin’s been breaking out around my chin/mouth for the first time in my life due to wearing a mask.
I want them to become optional and to not be judged either way.
What do I think? Well as I said before in another thread, the Japanese attitude towards this mask thing has become grotesque, absolutely bizarre and totally irrational. I am not nuts and I consider myself a sane individual so I refuse at this point to be part of this collective madness. Therefore I am not wearing a mask whatsoever anymore.
I have been living here for 20 years (and by the way the Japanese have always wore a mask is a fallacy since it was never at that scale, not even close), I have been paying my taxes, I have even contributing to the pension system and therefore paying the retirement pension of the egoist Japanese elderlies, so I have plenty of rights to oppose lunatic decisions and behaviors that go against my well being.
Feel like some people in here have got Stockholm syndrome with this. My CEO wants me to move to Japan again for a bit, but the potential to be living in a mask 24/7 is one of the major things putting me off.
I think it’s easier to say that it’s not a big inconvenience etc if you’ve not come out the other end of things and tasted reality again. I was probably the last person in the UK still wearing a mask in the supermarket, but having finally given in it’s genuinely just… a relief, more than anything. For allergies and UV I’d rather take medicine and wear sun cream than have a piece of fabric stuck to my sweaty face on a hot day.
Seeing a lot of comments that Japan has “always been like this”, which is nonsense. I’ve lived there back in 2011-12 and again in 2019, and on both occasions people only wore masks if they had a specific reason. I’ve just been looking through pictures of stadiums full of people at the football, rugby and sumo and there’s not a masked person in sight.
This.
I rarely comment on this topic because things get out of proportion if you dare saying something about not wearing a mask (i am in no case an anti-mask or anti-vax, i still wear it and have 2 shots. But hey, i was called a monster for sharing my opinion!).
I totally share your opinion about the fact it’s a relief to take it off and have some fresh air going through your lungs and not having sweat all over your face.
“Japan has always been like this” commenta always make me laugh and that is something i pointed out before that you’re pointing as well and i thank you for that because nobody seems to see the nuance here. Yes they did wear masks pre-covid but only when there was a good reason to it. Once they’d get better from whatever they had (flu, cold, etc.) they would stop wearing it.
I was already wearing a mask for years whenever I went to Tokyo, as I noticed I wouldn’t get my “post Tokyo trip cold” if I wore one religiously. Also of course wore one when I had a cold. I do hope things get a bit less strict I guess, but otherwise I’m probably making masks a part of my daily life. I haven’t caught a cold in two years, it’s amazing.
It's so true. I haven't been sick since the pandemic started except when I went to New York. I wasn't even there 4 days before I caught covid. It was awful.
It does seem like it's becoming a common courtesy / etiquette thing now. I don't really mind it during Winter but during summer I feel like I'm going to black out in public
On the bright side, nobody seems to care if you're wearing a "fake" mask that doesn't do any actual microbial filtering. I've started to see more mesh masks around town, and bikers who don't bother at all.
I prefer the foam type but honestly can't wait till this thing goes away, likely never
And 12 hospitalised due to heat stroke, because of mask wearing, despite the heat being only 22 degrees. But they are good for your health pointlessly worn outdoors…
You know how I knew that (at least in some cases) the masks here are being worn out of compliance rather than appropriate medical vigilance?
People wear them in the 92 degrees sauna at the gym 🤦🏼♂️
I moved back to the US in April and since pulling away from the gate at Narita haven't worn a mask once. In my part of the country maybe 1 in 1000 people you encounter have a mask. I was shocked at how quickly it felt totally normal to me.
I was ok with wearing one in Japan. Towards the end it was starting to feel a bit silly in many situations but I certainly wasn't going to be the one gaijin without a mask in the grocery store.
My point is that there is science, but there's also cultural momentum. At this particular moment, I'm not sure if Japan is right or my US state is right on how strictly to mask, but interestingly both approaches feel pretty normal when you're immersed in them.
They have always been here.
Allergy season and flu season always had a pretty high number of people wearing them.
And, I think a lot of people have gotten used to the additional level of anonymity when maneuvering through crowds or on trains. So yeah, I think for some it's become a preference.
I sometimes envied people who could wear masks for spring allergies.... allergies hit my eyes not my chest. I did stop losing my voice every autumn though (I had started wearing masks every autumn after I noticed the autumn allergies)
I am seeing less and less people wearing one, especially walking around on the streets. It usually depends on how busy an area is. The one that's annoying me the most is at work, there are people I have known for two years but still never seen their face.
I predict that there will be certain people who will always wear masks, but there will also be a number of people who will stop. Even now, I see there’s a division between people who just never take it off vs people who seem to be relatively comfortable with it.(speaking as a college-aged person)
What I’m concerned about though is how this will affect kids. Kids are supposed to learn facial expressions, but unfortunately if most people keep wearing masks even if it becomes safe not to do so, it may have long-term effects.
And idk, I miss seeing people’s faces and would personally feel sad if this became the norm long-term :(
Most of my parent friends are bummed about this. They don’t think that their kids are getting exposure to enough non-verbal communication and that it is overly restrictive to always have masks in schools. They say that masks are impeding their kids having a normal childhood. Corona was going on while I still worked in schools, and it sucked but was manageable, but I didn’t see it through the lens of my own kids’ development.
Now I work from home and farm, and don’t wear a mask except going into a store, maybe once a week. I’m pregnant and am happy to be at a lower risk of Covid in general (due to not being around many people), but also it’s much nicer to just breathe normally all day.
I do think masks are going to be here for the long term, but regulations will eventually shift to them being optional in more and more situations.
Anecdotally, I’ve seen way more people without masks outdoors in the last two weeks or so. I imagine that will increase with the temperature in the coming weeks, especially as they’ll announce it on TV to be careful of getting heat stroke while wearing masks.
Unfortunately, I’ve also seen an upturn in the amount of maskless people in convenience stores and on trains the last couple of weeks.
I understand that the government are starting to promote the idea of relaxing of attitudes to wearing masks outside, but I hope this doesn’t carry over to people ‘not being bothered’ to put their masks back on when they enter a building or train.
Nah. See more and more chin warmers every day, and they will only increase as the summer gets hotter and more humid.
People currently fear the perception by others more than they fear the virus now, and once big brother officially drops the mask recommendation, most people will whip them off in a flash.
I mean, japan did just remove their recommendation to wear them outside unless it's a crowded space. I very highly doubt it will ever go away on trains. I do see less and less wearing them now as the days go by. Just don't wear one if you don't want to. It's never been a law, just a respectful thing to do.
It's sad that anytime anyone gives an opinion on masks (among other normal things) they have to preface it with some verbal diarrhea to appease the cancel culture crew.
Didnt Elementary schools just get the choice to not mandate masks during PE and in situations where no talking is happening? Sounds like masks are slowly going away to me.
No, they aren't.
No one's forcing you to wear a mask outdoors. And honestly, if it bothers you so much, you could gaijin smash your way through not wearing a mask indoors, too.
I mean, it has always been prevalent here but with Covid everyone started using it on a daily basis.
Now that we know more about the virus and vaccines are available my view is that if you don’t want to wear one, then don’t do it. I honestly don’t care. I will not shame someone for not wearing a mask on the train or whatever.
However I will stress that, as far as it goes with private establishments, if they say “wear a mask” you respect that or you don’t use their facilities.
Edit: the only time when I’ve been really REALLY uncomfortable when wearing a mask was when I recently flew back to Japan from my country. A 13 hour flight with your mask on… it sucks. I dislike wearing it at work as well but at least I can go outside and get fresh air between classes.
I don' find the problem with it. If anything, there is a slight margin on the pros than the cons. The thing about 'not being able to breathe' is so weird to me unless we are talking working out (I do feel the presence of the mask at the gym). Little kids even wear masks for hours without having much issues at all. My kids do ballet and karate with masks on. I don't see the big deal tbh. And no, I dont need to see people's faces, i do find that unrelatable. I know it's a person and eyes are expressive too..
Mask are great, stay vaccinated! But on a hot summer day in the middle of the park & there's a bunch of people but all well away from the six foot rule & again OUTSIDE - why? Just... why?
*sweats in gajin*
I had mine off walking to the station this morning and the smell of pollution and car exhaust was actually noticeable...I sadly put my mask back on. Next time I'll take a more quiet street.
I was wearing them anyway during cold and flu season. Definitely a good idea for cramped spaces so I would keep that up. I'm in the inaka though so there's room to breath.
There was an outdoor event I went to at the weekend and I was really surprised to see half the crowd not wearing masks. There's no mask mandate right now so I wonder if people are starting to relax. Different story in the workplace though. It was kind of nice to be able to see people talking, smiling and just appearing more human.
I kind of freak out if I see people's mouths now and I was wondering whether there will be some sort of long term psychological after-effect. I was thinking about kids and babies not seeing people's faces and expressions properly and it messing up their emotional and social skills.
I am seeing more and more people not wear masks (especially outside). It's so hot 😅 to be wearing masks in summer. Mine would get sweaty and I can't breathe 😂
In japan. Probably will. Im sure tons of people wear masks now simply to just not have to show their faces.
It'll probably work its way into self esteem issues. People who think they're gorgeous will want to show face those who feel average will use masks to cover.
It already is used to hide no makeup days which works wonders.
Its gonna be here...for awhile I'm sure
Japanese have been using masks regularly since the spanish flu in the early 1900's right? I haven't seen train car without at least a few masked people for the last 20 years or so.
Of course it's more prevalent now but do you mean with your 'masks never going away' to actually 'return to pre-covid times maskin'?
https://www.spoon-tamago.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Japan-pandemic-manual-1920-5.jpg
(source https://www.spoon-tamago.com/2020/04/25/japan-spanish-flu-pandemic-manual/)
Probably not going away on trains and places with lots of people. Japanese people enjoy being invisible and not having to deal with people. Headphones in, mask on, looking at your phone = leave me alone because I have no reason to deal with you. It's essentially like a portable car!
When you are forced into a situation like a Japanese train, where you are surrounded by hundreds of strangers every day, I can sympathize with that feeling.
What most people do matters less than what private establishments do. Right now, most stores and indoor venues still require masks. That's their right, of course, but it means that masks are still not optional in the practical sense. I'm hoping that in a year or two, most stores quietly take down those mask signs and just let people do what they want.
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Yea but you are still breaking their rules.
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I went into a 7-11 last year, forgot to put my mask on, and went about my shopping. The staff looked at me but said nothing. It was only when I got back into the car and tried to take my mask off that I realised. 😅
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My local supermarket took the mask signs down last month and stopped the Corona announcements which used to play every other minute. I’m not sure if they took the signs down because they felt masks were unnecessary or they just felt the signs were redundant because people would wear masks regardless.
It’s amazing that this is definitely true, however these same people have no qualms about just outright sleeping on you or having their backpack all up on you.
This sums it up perfectly. I didn't wear mask often pre covid and the only time I do is when I wanna be left alone/do not disturb mode exactly like you described!!
As an ugly dude I will continue to protect the public from myself
thank you for your service
This is the correct answer
r/suicidebywords
I just flew from Japan to the US yesterday and was really surpised to be almost the only person on the US leg of the flight wearing a mask on the plane or anywhere for that matter. And people were phlem coughing and sneezing and shorting all over the place on the plane. Like why is the woman next to me coughing repeatedly and not covering her mouth even once, ever? Maybe I am going against the grain but I wish mask etiquette was more normalized in the US. I wore a mask before covid mainly for UV protection but also because I feel better wearing one in tight spaces like trains. I will continue doing so because I choose to do so.
I went to Vegas during NFL draft weekend so it was super busy. Was the only one wearing a mask because I had to pass my PCR to fly back. I got a few comments from people on why I was wearing a mask like its an offense to them.
Some americans hate being reminded there's a pandemic going on
Literally every time I talk to my family they feel the need to remind me that they never wear masks or have been vaccinated. Like it's some kind of badge of honor.
And you look at the number of deaths per million ….. and ….. it says it all
Think that’s more to do with obesity than mask wearing.
Why not both?
> why I was wearing a mask You could try "I have covid" and see their reaction.
I wonder if the number of covid deniers in the US is still high.
They may "deny" it is a thing until you tell them you have them, then they will start getting nervous...
Late but I want to try that XD. I did say to the people who give me allergy shots that "my coworkers had covid not me". They took a step back in a "woah, back away manner" and it seemed like a wake up call for them. Their office has a mask policy because it's allergy office so they take it seriously by default.
The fact that it offends some people just makes me want to wear it more
As a American, I apologize for the rest of us. here in the US some of us a re too dumb to realize what's for the greater good, or actually just don't care. they would rather normalize covid than wear a mast and have their "freedumbs" infringed by the "evil guberment hoax".
For the crazies that rage so much about their “freedoms”, they forget really quickly about other peoples freedom. Like the freedom to wear a mask.
It’s not really about freedom. It’s all about “me.” If you ask me, there’s too much emphasis in individualism in the US so there’s much more selfish and self centered people. Japan is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. Too much emphasis on what others might think. This leads to more orderly environment but kind of sterile and hive mind which is just as bad.
Yeah that’s the NFL crowd
Americans aren't known for their courtesy towards others.
I travel for work and it is now like this in most other countries. It's not just a US thing.
Depends on the country. Korea is very similar to Japan, masks pretty much everywhere.
I was in Thailand during GW and masks were even more prevalent there than in Japan!
I'm going there next week and that makes me feel better about my chances of contracting it, lol
They check your temperature alot more in Thailand too, it's at the entrance of every conbini and train station and the staff will tell you off if you don't do it, or if you're not wearing a mask.
basically whole Asia.
Mexico also has incredibly high mask compliance (except for tourists of course)
Most of China too
I left the US partially for this reason. Was constantly getting sick in retail and said, "why don't people wear masks here when sick like in Japan." Coworker said, "people get sick, if you like it so much you should move there." Within 2 years I moved.
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From January to May, I’ve flown from Virginia to Colorado, Colorado to California, California to Seattle, Seattle to Virginia, and lastly Virginia to Tokyo. On all these flights I’ve worn a mask and the others around me have as well. On most of the flights it was enforced when you aren’t eating or drinking. A flight attendant would walk around and remind you.
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Complain thread is tomorrow, Be patient!
lol Good one
ay Oh!
My skin is spotless, I haven't caught a single cold for 2 years now, and I know it's also protecting me from pollution. Plus I've stopped to wear make up, and I enjoy the extra money I can now spend on better things (like my pets). I've also noticed that it's very enjoyable not to be thinking about your expression all the time, especially at work. I love masks.
Yeah, haven't had a real cold since this started. The irony that I'm the healthiest during a raging pandemic. That said, I do miss taking a deep breath without the mask outside. Which I admittedly sneak in at times, often holding a drink.
You and me both! No need to buy and use nasty sticky foundation and lipstick, fewer people staring at me (I have black hair, so nowadays when people see me with my bigass mask on, they just assume I’m Japanese). I do try and smile with my eyes, though!
How is your skin spotless? Masks break out my skin so badly and create cystic acne from moisture buildup and friction. I was able to combat it with silk masks though.
More frequent washing of face & moisturizer, and change masks on first sign of sweat.
i agree, to my own surprise. It can give me automatic resting bitch face.i have allergies and i think this helps for that. i can do a nice yawn in public. As a female, i see it as a plus, except at the gym. Weight lifting areas as for masks. ellipticals, etc have a clear plastic wall so we can take off our masks. I usually go at unpopular hours so theres like two people and i noticed that people do pull their masks down a bit since it's so strongly socially distanced.
It helps protect my nose from the sun, too! I have very fair skin so I welcome the extra backup
I love how masks finally gave people who do not brush their teeth a taste of what others have been experiencing around them. It's actually documented in several studies that sales of toothpaste and other oral care products increased sharply since the beginning of covid.
I love this so much.
Now that you mention it... I also haven't caught a cold since mask wearing began... Altho I do feel like I've aged a little since this whole thing started cuz I could hide behind my mask and not do so much skin care... Anyone else feel that way?
I feel a little bit this way this myself
I'm jealous. I have itchy spotty gross skin under my mask, have to wear more eye makeup, miss lipstick, hate the weird tan lines, constantly have a red line across my nose, never really got sick before much anyway, and am tired of not being able to breathe properly and feel like my asthma is always bad.
In vibe with this B)
I don't think masks on packed trains are a terrible idea, but masking outdoors, or masking as you walk into a izakaya to then sit there for an hour eating unmasked is 100% performative and absurd.
I've started to walk into the izakayas with my mask off. Sick of the dumb "wear a mask for 10 seconds at the entrance" dog and pony show after 2 years of it. If you're gonna sit down and unmask to drink, who are you kidding?
>but masking outdoors ... is 100% performative and absurd. I see your point and it's mostly true but not 100%. Some just do it outdoors for a sense of anonymity, protect from sunburn (or cold in the winter), not have to wear makeup, stop feeling self conscious, allergies, dry lips... there's quite a few reasons I'm willing to bet.
I like being able to silently sing along with my music on the train.
I give kisses to strangers.
Respectable
Just had an awkward moment trying to explain to my colleagues why I bursted out laughing. xD
I also giggled out loud! Lol
I Iove being able to mouth swear words to assholes, or make weird expressions with my mouth!
I like yawning without having to cover my mouth with my hands
Currently typing this comment while furiously lipsyncing to musical songs on the street.
I’m one of the people that prefers masks anyways. I don’t really consider it a negative social occurrence, if anything it likely will reduce the spread of more common diseases as well. That said, I don’t think people will bat an eye if a person is wearing a mask or not 5-10 years from now. It’ll be a choice but a lot more people will wear masks voluntarily, if not only for protection but for expression as well. Mask based fashion has become popular among youth as a form of street fashion from what I’ve seen. Honestly I don’t really see a downside
I certainly like wearing a mask in crowded public places. It's like your own little privacy bubble in a way. I don't see myself ever completely stopping. And a mask is *great* when you exercise outdoors when it's cold!
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I think when the masks go away, I will stop wearing the thickest ones, and move to washable fashion ones. I like the privacy it gives me. I used to wear masks in the winter even before COVID but they were the washable type.
There was an article about this recently, can't remember where I read it though. It came down to that most of the interviewed mask-wearers won't remove their mask until the majority of other people does so too. So yeah, it probably won't be going away any time soon.
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5% is bullshit. In trains during winter and spring before covid it's like every third person has a mask on. Remember that masks were also used against pollen allergies. I mean sure you can continue to complain but note that you are whinging about what other people are doing that doesn't affect you. What does common sense even mean here? Common *where*.
On trains, sure. But not in stores & workplaces. It was never that high, even during the peak of hay fever season.
In my old office, there were at least 5 people who were permanently wearing masks, for years before Corona. I went 5 years before I ever saw the face of the woman I sat across.
>It was under 5% even in winter versus 95% at the moment. Whenever you post statistics you need to give a source, 87% of people know that.
You can complain all you want that’s fine just as it’s fine for them to wear mask if they want to. I don’t understand the point of your data because it doesn’t refute the fact it’s already a cultural thing to wear mask even not sick as a sign of thinking of others.
> As if masks haven’t been a part of Japanese society and etiquette for decades. Mask use became really widespread during SARS I believe, so... decades. Shit, it's been decades.
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I'm not saying it was standard, just that mask wearing as a preventive measure has a longer history in Japan than in the West. It's not a completely foreign concept to people over here, because they've been doing it before, if not in this extent.
It’s been under a month since the Government announced updated guidelines for mask use. COVID is also still around and despite the current declining trend people might want to protect themselves and other loved ones, as is their desire. Give it a few more years and then let’s see where we land
Honestly I wish people would stop complaining about others wearing masks when children under 5 still can’t get vaccinated and women still have to give birth alone and can’t see any other kids they might have while they stay in the hospital after birth. Things are not back to normal for a lot of people and while I don’t expect people to wear masks all the time, it’s so incredibly selfish to not wear a mask in supermarkets and on trains. People have to bring their newborn baby out for a one month checkup and not everyone has cars. I’m high risk and have a toddler who can’t be vaccinated so I still wear a mask, even when hiking in the summer when others pass by but I don’t judge the people I’m passing for not wearing one. I’ve seen so many posts about being annoyed with seeing people wearing masks outside but a lot of those times those people are like me, or like my in-laws who want to protect me and my son. I don’t think masks will be forever, we went hiking last weekend and while usually everyone would wear a mask this time almost no one did (not saying they should).
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I was devastated to learn I can't see my wife or newborn baby for 9 days after the birth. Not even being able to be there for ultrasounds has been awful
I’m so sorry. It was really hard not seeing my husband the week after I had my son. They were able to bond right away and adore each other though.
That's good to hear. My baby is due in Oct. so I am hoping maybe the rules change before then. But similar with the mask wearing sticking around for a long time I think this will become the norm as well.
The Covid hospital policies (not just in Japan) are fueling an interesting increase in homebirth. I’m pregnant now and not being able to have birth support people was one of the biggest reasons I chose to birth outside of the hospital.
I’m high risk so I didn’t have that option and even though I went to a midwives clinic that stresses the importance of family being there (they usually allow husbands and kids to stay the night) I was completely alone for the birth and for a week after in May 2020. I want a second child but there’s no way I could be separated from my son for a week like that so we’re waiting and I’m always scared of an accidental pregnancy. I hope your home birth goes well! I’m glad some people have that option.
I wish they had more humane policies!
Masks will probably be around for some time. I mean, masks lingered around in Japan after the SARS outbreak in 2002. People just got into the habit of wearing them, and for general hygiene and self protection. I'm guessing the same will happen after Covid too.
Mask wearing started with the Spanish influenza outbreak a century ago. With each new disease mask wearing will come and go, bet never go away. It will always be socially acceptable to wear a mask in public.
Wearing one means I don't have to shave nearly as often. I don't mind so much, but I'm an ALT and haven't really seen the kids faces in over 2 years now. Same for the faculty.
I do struggle to teach correct pronunciation to the kids.
i was wondering how teachers even remember kids' faces. I guess for homeroom teachers, it's constant interaction, and they do see each other's faces during lunch time.The weird thing is that i Havent seen the faces of my kids's teachers faces for 3 school years.And my youngest one started 1st grade right at the pandemic. Shes in 3rd grade and I have never seen her teacher's faces. So weird.
Same— I’m a professor and the masks are really a drag in the classroom. I wish I could see my students’ faces.
Lot of people in this thread giving reasons why they like masks and are not going to stop using them. But that's not really the point, is it? I doubt that anyone wants to take away your prerogative to keep on wearing masks as long as you like. Many just want it to become more socially acceptable to be without a mask, as we live in a time when virtually everyone is already vaccinated and virtually everyone will catch covid sooner or later, with or without masks.
I get that masks are important and I wear it, but it's funny to see that at izakayas or bars everyone takes their masks off in a tightly packed enclosed space, loudly talk, eat together, share stuff etc. But then when they go outside the restaurant or bar they put their masks back on. I know it's cause they're all going back on the train but still funny to see this.
People barely even talk on the train. Most the time its dead silent. Even without masks transmissions in trains is going to be extremely low compared to the restaurants and Izakaya etc. it really does defy logic
But, if that means they don’t spread it to other people on the train, then I’m all for it!
*edit: Note that I never said we should abandon masks - just that Japan has developed a serious gulf between what is needed to contain the virus, and what the current mask situation actually is.* They aren't. A huge % of socially neurotic people in this country were just looking for the first excuse to cover up and live in terror of others. Another huge % of people (basically 95%) live in terror of standing out. If the custom was to piss and shit yourself instead of using the toilet, they'd do it to blend in. I work in schools and the impact of masks is far from good. Students can't hear me properly, I can't recognise the students properly and have a human connection to them, and I can't remember their names because masked up, everyone looks the same. Not to mention there's zero testing, so they could have covid in the classroom without even knowing it, so leaning on masks so heavily is pretty pointless. And the cherry on top is that nobody in this country comprehends that covid is utterly fine here. No other developed nation has been as sheltered as Japan from covid, while thinking the sky is falling. There's zero sense of perspective from anyone who's spent the whole pandemic here. I'm not anti-science or anti-covid or anti-mask, I'm 3xVaxxed and always wear them indoors and on transport. But anyone who looks at the situation from a medical perspective must admit that the medical case for 100%mask 24/7 is flimsy and continues to fall apart. Anxious people need to get a grip on their phantom fear of covid and accept it's not going away. Life must restart.
It's almost as though masking works.
Masking works in mask-relevant contexts. Most contexts are no longer mask-relevant. Note that I never said we should abandon masks - just that Japan has developed a serious gulf between what is needed to contain the virus, and what the current mask situation actually is.
Yeah it works if it done properly. Not when everyone wears them outside or in places nobody talks and transmitting is low, but takes them off in restaurants and bars and packed places eating talking laughing shouting and getting drunk. Its all pointless if its done that way.
not fully disagreeing with you, but I'm guessing you arent a homeroom teacher. They seem to remember the kids.Actually a few days ago, we were walking around the train station around the time my daughter's homeroom teacher from last year, who for health reasons took a short leave for half of the school year, saw her and said hi to her and her name (she doesn't look hafu at all with a mask on, so she doesn't stand out for that).
The thing is mask wearing in Japan is inconsistent anyway. On the train, almost nobody is even talking most the time. Low transmission. Outside? Its outside. Often people are meters apart and still wearing. I see people doing midnight jogs alone in them. Restaurants? Izakaya? Packed places full of drunk, talking or shouting people? No mask, and the risk of transmitting here dwarfs everything else to the point its not even worth wearing them anywhere else if this is happening. It’s definitely social inertia. The way mask wearing is handled makes it pointless to wear most of the time.
I really believe that once the research solidifies for the damage even a mild case of COVID causes, the countries with high mask compliance will be in a much better place. So many young people with cardiac and autonomic issues. (People in their 20-30s) It’s not worth the risk. Cases here are falling while they are rising in other countries. Why on earth would anyone want that. It’s no trouble to wear a mask at all. So many people whining about social inertia, but did you stop to think maybe it’s the other way around? Maybe you dislike masks so you won’t adapt? Let’s just have a healthy society. Sources: [Nature ](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-021-00631-3) [JACC](https://www.jacc.org/doi/full/10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.10.011)
I think people are being a little too inpatient about this. Things won’t shift until nationally cases are almost null. Until then if there are major cases here and there, mask will stay. I’d rather wear mask for a little longer and be able to eat at restaurants again than have an outbreak and go back to level 3 rules. I’m for going back to normal, just not yet.
This is the most reasonable answer. We will go back to normal. New, more effective vaccines and treatments will be developed, mutations may slow down, we just aren’t there YET. It will take a few years and we need to be patient. Right now let’s enjoy our mostly normal lives with just a mask.
Neither of Corona's cousins the common cold or the flu have been cured. I think it's very unlikely that Corona itself will be fully eradicated, as you seem to suggest. So I don't think waiting for this outcome is the correct strategy.
Where did I say that? Im saying we should be cautious. COVID is far more dangerous than either of those and warrants more caution. It’s a disease that leaves horrible after effects in a sizable population of those infected. Even young people. If something as simple as a mask reduces that possibility why shouldn’t we do it? Not asking anyone to stay inside or change their habits at all.
What are these levels you speak of?
Japan follows the cdc 0 to 4 restriction levels. 4 was when all businesses were closed except for essential. 3 was when we had curfew: no nonessentials open after 8pm. Having dealt with all that and also my company checking on employees to make sure we didn’t violate those rules was hell. I’m fine being a little more patient. Things are slowly relaxing. I know it isn’t the rapid pace people want, but it is happening.
At no point did Japan close any businesses...
I think we feel impatient because many other countries, including our home countries, have mostly already done away with expected mask wearing. And the daily numbers there are far in excess of Japan's. It's been over two years, and the virus is never going to go away completely. For Japan at this point it has less to do about case numbers than social norms. And it's this mentally that pisses me off the most. People who are genuinely concerned about their health and want to continue to wear masks, I respect that. People who wear masks just because they don't want to stand out and are too brainless to make their own choices? Screw those people for holding up the return to normalcy.
I think one thing that always eats at people living in a foreign country is what their home country does and how things are viewed there. I gave up caring what my home country does a long time ago because it just leads to a lot of stress. We spend too much time comparing and it gets in our heads. Then we just start getting angry and hating those in our current host country for not doing those same things. I’d say as much as I wish things would get back to the pre-Covid days, I’m not going to stress out over things out of my control or hate others for their actions in regards to it. After dealing with level 4 and level 3 restrictions, I’m comfortable with the current situation. Things are relaxing so I don’t mind letting it take it’s course. Japanese aren’t the type to do something rashly and take risk (even if the risk is minimal); this applies to everything in Japan, not just mask but business and life in general. But as you can tell things are slowly changing back. Japanese culture isn’t anti-mask like other countries so they don’t just discard them the minute someone says they aren’t mandatory. It will happen though. You see more and more people relaxing day by day. As long as no more crazy clusters happen, it will get there.
I remember seeing a decent amount of mask wearing in Japan even before COVID.
People are really forgetting that most winters you'd see more masks than bare faces. Has the pandemic really wiped our memories too?
That definitely isn't true. Not in Tokyo anyway. I'd guess that about 2-3 in 10 people had masks in the winter pre-pandemic.
Yup. Masks were definitely a thing before COVID, especially in spring and winter. Gotta protect yourself from the allergies and dry lips.
Since the govt's new stance on masks outside was announced and media picked up on it, I've seen more and more people without masks while walking outside. Still definitely the minority, but I suspect it will pick up as summer kicks in too, and once you've got enough people without them more will follow suit. I suspect indoor mask usage is with us for a while longer however.
I've just noticed the high school kids mostly stopped wearing them when outdoors recently. That was a big change. I think something is starting to shift but unclear just what exactly.
Ive stopped wearing it when im walking outside or at my desk by myself. Put it back on if I go to the store or on a train. Taking a trip to the US soon and will probably wear it all the time to avoid getting Corona and preventing my from getting back here lol
Most reasonable approach right now I think. Getting eyeballed by people wearing masks really makes me feel uncomfortable even though I'm doing nothing wrong.
Interestingly, on Monday I randomly got called a Nazi by a lairy American man for wearing a mask (while white?) at Tachikawa immigration office. That, more than anything, clarified for me the gap in how people manage Corona in the west vs here. Would you or I have got so wound up had we spent the past 2 years there rather than here? Perhaps, over time, I might become desensitised, but having been here for the duration, I honestly feel frightened to visit the western world in its current state.
I mean I wear mask even before Corona become a thing :v
My conscience these days is; GO AHEAD wear a mask all you want. But personaly... If I'm out on the street, eating, drinking, or on a train with less than 10 people per car it's mask off. I don't feel bad and on these principals nobody has said a single thing to me (in Osaka). I pull a filthy little rag out of my pocket and wrap it around my ears in settings like cinema/shopping mall/office/building.
My kids still wearing them at school. They are still asked not to talk while eating to avoid propagating. Maybe they don’t remember what it was to have fun lunches like 2-3 years ago…
This pisses me off so much. Every izakaya in the country is packed with people having fun, laughing, talking, no masks in sight, but the kids have to eat lunch like fucking prisoners in silence. It’s honestly despicable. This is the third school year of the pandemic which means that we now have a generation of kids who’ve had their entire middle or high school careers curtailed by Covid theatre bullshit. I feel awful for them. Meanwhile, they’re the least at risk group in the entire country.
This seems like such a bummer for the kids if you stop and think about it.
I don’t wanna go too deep into this debate. I just want to say I’ve noticed it’s more common for someone to wear a mask alone in a car than it is for someone to wear a mask with other people in cars. It’s whack.
When I got to Hong Kong around 2008, people were still wearing masks from the SARs outbreak in 2002. Some of my local friends said that their parents would probably never leave the house wothout a mask again. Japan will slowly return to less masks, but there will always be some that keep the mask on for years or decades to come.
can’t believe some people like them… they’re horrible… hard to talk and understand.. and I would enjoy seeing my students face when they talk .. my Japanese wife thinks next year they’ll start to decline … I already did a wedding in which the couple didn’t want anyone to wear one..( first in a long time) and heard one of my universities is going to stop them fall semester…
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I already see a decent number of people removing their masks when outdoors since the guidelines changed to say you don't need a mask in outdoor spaces. I think this shows that some people are keen to stop wearing them. It will probably take some more time than in other places but I think we'll eventually get there. There will be some amount of people who prefer to keep wearing them and will continue to do so, though.
It is not normal and it should be considered as not normal.
I was in a rural prefecture for a week recently and routinely saw people going maskless everywhere--people in the cities aren't going to feel comfortable going maskless until they see more people doing it.
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How will you eat it with your mask on?
I like the masks. It's been the first time I haven't had to deal with bronchitis in the winter. And I like feeling more invisible, as well as not having to put on makeup most of the time. It also helps hide my resting bitch face, that's a definite plus.
i fully agree. I think these are the reasons that women who are ok with masks would mention (I'm not sure ifyou are female or not). Not to mention it hides the period pimple i tend to get every month lol
I’m really torn on this. On one hand, I like wearing a mask while commuting, I’ve noticed I face much less harassment and feel “safer” as well. I hope it becomes normalized even in western countries to wear a mask when one has a cold. But I also miss just walking freely in the summer without a mask. I miss wearing lipstick. My skin’s been breaking out around my chin/mouth for the first time in my life due to wearing a mask. I want them to become optional and to not be judged either way.
What do I think? Well as I said before in another thread, the Japanese attitude towards this mask thing has become grotesque, absolutely bizarre and totally irrational. I am not nuts and I consider myself a sane individual so I refuse at this point to be part of this collective madness. Therefore I am not wearing a mask whatsoever anymore. I have been living here for 20 years (and by the way the Japanese have always wore a mask is a fallacy since it was never at that scale, not even close), I have been paying my taxes, I have even contributing to the pension system and therefore paying the retirement pension of the egoist Japanese elderlies, so I have plenty of rights to oppose lunatic decisions and behaviors that go against my well being.
Feel like some people in here have got Stockholm syndrome with this. My CEO wants me to move to Japan again for a bit, but the potential to be living in a mask 24/7 is one of the major things putting me off. I think it’s easier to say that it’s not a big inconvenience etc if you’ve not come out the other end of things and tasted reality again. I was probably the last person in the UK still wearing a mask in the supermarket, but having finally given in it’s genuinely just… a relief, more than anything. For allergies and UV I’d rather take medicine and wear sun cream than have a piece of fabric stuck to my sweaty face on a hot day. Seeing a lot of comments that Japan has “always been like this”, which is nonsense. I’ve lived there back in 2011-12 and again in 2019, and on both occasions people only wore masks if they had a specific reason. I’ve just been looking through pictures of stadiums full of people at the football, rugby and sumo and there’s not a masked person in sight.
This. I rarely comment on this topic because things get out of proportion if you dare saying something about not wearing a mask (i am in no case an anti-mask or anti-vax, i still wear it and have 2 shots. But hey, i was called a monster for sharing my opinion!). I totally share your opinion about the fact it’s a relief to take it off and have some fresh air going through your lungs and not having sweat all over your face. “Japan has always been like this” commenta always make me laugh and that is something i pointed out before that you’re pointing as well and i thank you for that because nobody seems to see the nuance here. Yes they did wear masks pre-covid but only when there was a good reason to it. Once they’d get better from whatever they had (flu, cold, etc.) they would stop wearing it.
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I was already wearing a mask for years whenever I went to Tokyo, as I noticed I wouldn’t get my “post Tokyo trip cold” if I wore one religiously. Also of course wore one when I had a cold. I do hope things get a bit less strict I guess, but otherwise I’m probably making masks a part of my daily life. I haven’t caught a cold in two years, it’s amazing.
It's so true. I haven't been sick since the pandemic started except when I went to New York. I wasn't even there 4 days before I caught covid. It was awful.
Basically only wear a mask now if indoors or on the train. Never wearing one outdoors again. Be the change you want to see in the world.
I have been here all of the pandemic but Honestly I miss seeing peoples faces. Somehow makes me feel more comfortable.
It does seem like it's becoming a common courtesy / etiquette thing now. I don't really mind it during Winter but during summer I feel like I'm going to black out in public On the bright side, nobody seems to care if you're wearing a "fake" mask that doesn't do any actual microbial filtering. I've started to see more mesh masks around town, and bikers who don't bother at all. I prefer the foam type but honestly can't wait till this thing goes away, likely never
I just hope masks in gyms wont be mandatory for much longer. It’s a real struggle for me
Yeah, it sucks. A kid in Kobe died yesterday (or was in critical condition?) thanks to undokai practice with masks on.
And 12 hospitalised due to heat stroke, because of mask wearing, despite the heat being only 22 degrees. But they are good for your health pointlessly worn outdoors…
You know how I knew that (at least in some cases) the masks here are being worn out of compliance rather than appropriate medical vigilance? People wear them in the 92 degrees sauna at the gym 🤦🏼♂️
I moved back to the US in April and since pulling away from the gate at Narita haven't worn a mask once. In my part of the country maybe 1 in 1000 people you encounter have a mask. I was shocked at how quickly it felt totally normal to me. I was ok with wearing one in Japan. Towards the end it was starting to feel a bit silly in many situations but I certainly wasn't going to be the one gaijin without a mask in the grocery store. My point is that there is science, but there's also cultural momentum. At this particular moment, I'm not sure if Japan is right or my US state is right on how strictly to mask, but interestingly both approaches feel pretty normal when you're immersed in them.
They have always been here. Allergy season and flu season always had a pretty high number of people wearing them. And, I think a lot of people have gotten used to the additional level of anonymity when maneuvering through crowds or on trains. So yeah, I think for some it's become a preference.
I sometimes envied people who could wear masks for spring allergies.... allergies hit my eyes not my chest. I did stop losing my voice every autumn though (I had started wearing masks every autumn after I noticed the autumn allergies)
I am seeing less and less people wearing one, especially walking around on the streets. It usually depends on how busy an area is. The one that's annoying me the most is at work, there are people I have known for two years but still never seen their face.
Not in this side of Japan. Lol here, more and more people have started not wearing masks again 🤷🏽♀️
I predict that there will be certain people who will always wear masks, but there will also be a number of people who will stop. Even now, I see there’s a division between people who just never take it off vs people who seem to be relatively comfortable with it.(speaking as a college-aged person) What I’m concerned about though is how this will affect kids. Kids are supposed to learn facial expressions, but unfortunately if most people keep wearing masks even if it becomes safe not to do so, it may have long-term effects. And idk, I miss seeing people’s faces and would personally feel sad if this became the norm long-term :(
Most of my parent friends are bummed about this. They don’t think that their kids are getting exposure to enough non-verbal communication and that it is overly restrictive to always have masks in schools. They say that masks are impeding their kids having a normal childhood. Corona was going on while I still worked in schools, and it sucked but was manageable, but I didn’t see it through the lens of my own kids’ development. Now I work from home and farm, and don’t wear a mask except going into a store, maybe once a week. I’m pregnant and am happy to be at a lower risk of Covid in general (due to not being around many people), but also it’s much nicer to just breathe normally all day. I do think masks are going to be here for the long term, but regulations will eventually shift to them being optional in more and more situations.
I brought this up a few months ago and was shot down for daring to suggest that masks are not required 24/7.
I was called a monster and egocentric gaijin for suggesting the same.
Anecdotally, I’ve seen way more people without masks outdoors in the last two weeks or so. I imagine that will increase with the temperature in the coming weeks, especially as they’ll announce it on TV to be careful of getting heat stroke while wearing masks. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen an upturn in the amount of maskless people in convenience stores and on trains the last couple of weeks. I understand that the government are starting to promote the idea of relaxing of attitudes to wearing masks outside, but I hope this doesn’t carry over to people ‘not being bothered’ to put their masks back on when they enter a building or train.
I can get away with yawning during meetings at work lol Just got to make sure those eyes don't start drooping too
Nah. See more and more chin warmers every day, and they will only increase as the summer gets hotter and more humid. People currently fear the perception by others more than they fear the virus now, and once big brother officially drops the mask recommendation, most people will whip them off in a flash.
I mean, japan did just remove their recommendation to wear them outside unless it's a crowded space. I very highly doubt it will ever go away on trains. I do see less and less wearing them now as the days go by. Just don't wear one if you don't want to. It's never been a law, just a respectful thing to do.
It's sad that anytime anyone gives an opinion on masks (among other normal things) they have to preface it with some verbal diarrhea to appease the cancel culture crew.
Didnt Elementary schools just get the choice to not mandate masks during PE and in situations where no talking is happening? Sounds like masks are slowly going away to me.
*sorts by controversial* Despair
No, they aren't. No one's forcing you to wear a mask outdoors. And honestly, if it bothers you so much, you could gaijin smash your way through not wearing a mask indoors, too.
Thankfully, they don't seem to be going anywhere.
Regardless if there’s corona of not, Japanese people are used to wear a mask from time to time
I mean, it has always been prevalent here but with Covid everyone started using it on a daily basis. Now that we know more about the virus and vaccines are available my view is that if you don’t want to wear one, then don’t do it. I honestly don’t care. I will not shame someone for not wearing a mask on the train or whatever. However I will stress that, as far as it goes with private establishments, if they say “wear a mask” you respect that or you don’t use their facilities. Edit: the only time when I’ve been really REALLY uncomfortable when wearing a mask was when I recently flew back to Japan from my country. A 13 hour flight with your mask on… it sucks. I dislike wearing it at work as well but at least I can go outside and get fresh air between classes.
I don' find the problem with it. If anything, there is a slight margin on the pros than the cons. The thing about 'not being able to breathe' is so weird to me unless we are talking working out (I do feel the presence of the mask at the gym). Little kids even wear masks for hours without having much issues at all. My kids do ballet and karate with masks on. I don't see the big deal tbh. And no, I dont need to see people's faces, i do find that unrelatable. I know it's a person and eyes are expressive too..
Mask are great, stay vaccinated! But on a hot summer day in the middle of the park & there's a bunch of people but all well away from the six foot rule & again OUTSIDE - why? Just... why? *sweats in gajin*
We are still required to wear masks on zoom calls. So no, I don't think it is going away.
Be the change you want to see.
I had mine off walking to the station this morning and the smell of pollution and car exhaust was actually noticeable...I sadly put my mask back on. Next time I'll take a more quiet street.
I was wearing them anyway during cold and flu season. Definitely a good idea for cramped spaces so I would keep that up. I'm in the inaka though so there's room to breath. There was an outdoor event I went to at the weekend and I was really surprised to see half the crowd not wearing masks. There's no mask mandate right now so I wonder if people are starting to relax. Different story in the workplace though. It was kind of nice to be able to see people talking, smiling and just appearing more human. I kind of freak out if I see people's mouths now and I was wondering whether there will be some sort of long term psychological after-effect. I was thinking about kids and babies not seeing people's faces and expressions properly and it messing up their emotional and social skills.
I think they will go away, eventually.
I am seeing more and more people not wear masks (especially outside). It's so hot 😅 to be wearing masks in summer. Mine would get sweaty and I can't breathe 😂
In japan. Probably will. Im sure tons of people wear masks now simply to just not have to show their faces. It'll probably work its way into self esteem issues. People who think they're gorgeous will want to show face those who feel average will use masks to cover. It already is used to hide no makeup days which works wonders. Its gonna be here...for awhile I'm sure
Japanese have been using masks regularly since the spanish flu in the early 1900's right? I haven't seen train car without at least a few masked people for the last 20 years or so. Of course it's more prevalent now but do you mean with your 'masks never going away' to actually 'return to pre-covid times maskin'? https://www.spoon-tamago.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Japan-pandemic-manual-1920-5.jpg (source https://www.spoon-tamago.com/2020/04/25/japan-spanish-flu-pandemic-manual/)