4 ms·

This a south/east/south-east asian thing, not specific to japanese. You will find the same in vietnam, korea, cambodia, thailand, taiwan, ...

by nolok 10y ago

_kyran 10y ago
You will find it elsewhere in SEA, but the prevalence in Japan is extremely high. I've been in train carriages where 40% of its passengers are wearing them.
TeMPOraL 10y ago
Also Hong Kong. I always thought it may be related to population density. Another thing I've noticed in Hong Kong is sanitizing gel dispensers placed pretty much everywhere - corridors in metro stations, hotels, etc. Seems reasonable with the amount of people living there per square meter of space.
- micv 10y ago
  I'm not sure it's population density or at least not that alone. There are parts of the West with comparably high densities, especially in large cities, and covering your face is generally frowned upon. I suspect that the cultural focus on cleanliness has a lot to do with it, but given that it's Hacker News there may be someone with a more exact idea of the origin.
  - mistermann 10y ago
    Allergies is one major motivator.
    - DasIch 10y ago
      Allergies should be a good reason not do that, at least from a public health perspective.
  - plaguuuuuu 10y ago
    You wear one if you're sick. So that you don't get other people sick basically. Contrast with my experience in Sydney, where catching the bus during flu season is bloody hazardous. Being coughed and sneezed on gets old quickly, so I totally understand the surgical mask thing; it's a basic courtesy.
    - eru 10y ago
      Yes. Though I am not sure if it's actually effective, or only a superficial courtesy.
      - aninhumer 10y ago
        It may even be counter-productive, if it means you no longer feel the need to cover your mouth when coughing.
        TeMPOraL 10y ago
        Isn't surgical mask more effective than covering your mouth when coughing?
- ducklord 10y ago
  It's most likely due to the country's brush with SARS and avian flu. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-21680682 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-21680682
- pbourke 10y ago
  I wonder if this is a consequence of the SARS outbreak ~10 years ago.
  - Vivtek 10y ago
    No, it predates it, to the 80's at least, to my personal knowledge, and I have no reason think it's not older than that.

This a south/east/south-east asian thing, not specific to japanese. You will find the same in vietnam, korea, cambodia, thailand, taiwan, ...

by nolok 10y ago

This a south/east/south-east asian thing, not specific to japanese. You will find the same in vietnam, korea, cambodia, thailand, taiwan, ...

_kyran 10y ago

You will find it elsewhere in SEA, but the prevalence in Japan is extremely high. I've been in train carriages where 40% of its passengers are wearing them.

TeMPOraL 10y ago

Also Hong Kong. I always thought it may be related to population density. Another thing I've noticed in Hong Kong is sanitizing gel dispensers placed pretty much everywhere - corridors in metro stations, hotels, etc. Seems reasonable with the amount of people living there per square meter of space.

micv 10y ago
I'm not sure it's population density or at least not that alone. There are parts of the West with comparably high densities, especially in large cities, and covering your face is generally frowned upon. I suspect that the cultural focus on cleanliness has a lot to do with it, but given that it's Hacker News there may be someone with a more exact idea of the origin.
- mistermann 10y ago
  Allergies is one major motivator.
  - DasIch 10y ago
    Allergies should be a good reason not do that, at least from a public health perspective.
- plaguuuuuu 10y ago
  You wear one if you're sick. So that you don't get other people sick basically. Contrast with my experience in Sydney, where catching the bus during flu season is bloody hazardous. Being coughed and sneezed on gets old quickly, so I totally understand the surgical mask thing; it's a basic courtesy.
  - eru 10y ago
    Yes. Though I am not sure if it's actually effective, or only a superficial courtesy.
    - aninhumer 10y ago
      It may even be counter-productive, if it means you no longer feel the need to cover your mouth when coughing.
      - TeMPOraL 10y ago
        Isn't surgical mask more effective than covering your mouth when coughing?
ducklord 10y ago
It's most likely due to the country's brush with SARS and avian flu. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-21680682 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-21680682
pbourke 10y ago
I wonder if this is a consequence of the SARS outbreak ~10 years ago.
- Vivtek 10y ago
  No, it predates it, to the 80's at least, to my personal knowledge, and I have no reason think it's not older than that.