I remember fondly my trip to Japan in December 2019. The most vivid memory I had of that trip wasn’t the huge Melon Pan I had under the neon lights of Dotonbori in Osaka, nor the experience of sitting butt-naked in an onsen in Hakone in winter. It was perhaps the simple, everyday sight of the Japanese hurrying about their daily affairs, with a vast majority of them decked out in face masks of all types.

It was a wild sight to me - one that would never happen in Singapore (pre-Covid-19 times!). Little did I know that less than three months later, the world would find itself shielded behind face masks, no thanks to the raging pandemic. Let’s look at how the Mask Culture in Japan came to be, and why the Japanese love their masks!

Anti-pollution, Anti-pollen

Japan’s cities are bustling with activity. The roads are lined with cars and vehicles that release all forms of exhaust that the health-conscious Japanese would do anything to avoid! Just imagine - almost 40 million people packed into a bustling financial hub about 3 times the size of Singapore, each with their own cars and vehicles. Oh the horror! Cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and emissions from factories - who would want these terrible pollutants getting into their lungs?

Not to mention the constant itching and sneezing once pollen season sets in in January. Shudder.

The solution? Masks that protect you from having to breathe in these allergens and pollutants! Now you’re ready to take on the bustling city, safely shielded behind a face mask!

Fashion Statement

Disposable, surgical, fabric, plain-black, hello-kitty printed… you name it, they wear it. Face masks are more than just a face covering. In Japan, some see it as a fashion statement. The trendy would tell you - wearing a neon green face mask with a pastel pink outfit? Probably one of the biggest fashion faux pas you could make! Pair a sleek black mask with an all black outfit and you’re ready to hit the town for a cool and fashionable look.

Face masks give your outfit that added oomph. With the right colour, or a design that compliments your outfit, you’ll be catching eyeballs left and right!

Hygiene

The wearing of face masks even if the age of a global pandemic seems like an anathema to so many in the West (why would you even suggest that you could be sick?), but the Japanese have long embraced it. Wearing a mask not only protected you from being sick, it also prevents you from passing on to the next person whatever viruses or germs you may be carrying.

This sense of altruism and practice that has been engrained in Japanese society probably helps to explain why Covid-19 death rates remained low at the height of the pandemic and outbreaks have been largely controlled or limited to clusters!

Lookism

No time to apply make up but have to attend a lecture in school? Ran out of toilet paper and need to make a quick trip to the supermarket but too lazy to hide that huge festering pimple on your chin? No fear! Slap on a mask and you’re ready to go!

Japan’s no stranger to lookism and the obsession with looks. Make-up and skincare is not just to give you that extra bit of confidence - it is widely seen as a necessity. Because of that, the mask is perfect for providing a literal shield to hide behind!

The horrors of no-make-up be gone!

With that, you now know why the Japanese love their masks! It’s more than a piece of fabric with elastic hoops - it has become a defining feature of Japanese culture!

Wonder where to get beautiful and cool masks? Don’t want to use disposable masks that are bad for the environment? We gotcha!

1. Floral/Printed Masks

These masks are anti-microbial and offer protection while making you look chic! They also come in a variety of patterns that will help to brighten up your day!

You can purchase them from local home-grown brand, Hidden Beauty at just $12 per mask!

2. Silk Satin Masks

Check out these silk-satin masks that offer maximum comfort in sweaty Singapore! I’ve never actually seen masks that are so instagram-worthy! Perfect for pairing with a sleek dress on date night!

Check them out at Singapore based Rentadella at ~$19.90 per mask!

3. Batik Adjustable Masks

3-ply masks in beautiful Batik prints will make you stand out from the rest! In a variety of pastel colours, they really are reminiscent of Batik prints of yesteryear! The best thing about these masks? The option to either customise with ear loops or head loops for individual comfort!

Ans.Ein is selling these masks at $10 for child-sizes, $12 for adult-sizes.

4. Uniqlo’s Airism Range

All the rage in Japan, these Uniqlo masks are made with the same technology of their famous Airism range, providing you with maximum comfort at an affordable price! They come in size M or L, and you can get them in either black or white!

They’re currently being sold in a pack of 3 masks for $14.90!