The masking had no effect on either influenza, of which it suffered regular pandemics, nor COVID-19, as even though people wore them at work and, laughably, out

The masking had no effect on either influenza, of which it suffered regular pandemics, nor COVID-19, as even though people wore them at work and, laughably, outside in the open air a) the virus is aerosolised b) Japan still experienced large waves of infections c) the masks used are not of the requisite quality nor used properly (if you've ever had the horror to witness an old man pull down his mask to cough because he doesn't want to sully the mask, which perhaps he wants to wear tomorrow too, you'll know what I mean) d) most transmission occurs at home, which may be the only place Japanese people do not usually bother with masks e) Hikikomori is a real social phenomena in Japan but the vast majority of people are not hikikomori, nor did most people isolate. Even at the height of "soft lockdown" there were still lots of people moving around and work from home was still not something widespread.