For allergy season, Japan turns to surgical masks

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Himajin at 09:38 PM JST - 27th April

I've done the Q-tip and saline bit, I also paint my throat (if it's sore) with Isojin. I only started having allergies two or three years ago, I'm still getting the hang of dealing with them, but the mask this year was a tremendous help, although dasai...
Bento at 11:00 PM JST - 27th April

yep and it shouldn't take too long to cut "scores" down either
usaexpat at 11:26 PM JST - 27th April

Allergy season my foot, it's fear of swine flu. I always thought the mask thing in Japan was funny, my first instinct is to get as far away as possible from anyone with a mask...hack hack
LoveUSA at 11:41 PM JST - 27th April

Masks make people look like monsters.
OhioDonna at 04:47 AM JST - 28th April

Masks are not a bad idea. I wish this custom would become popular in the US. I work at a desk and have been sneezed and coughed on so much that it is a wonder that I am still here. Every time some one coughs or sneezes in my direction, I hope and pray that they do not have TB.
Orangeporange at 06:44 AM JST - 28th April

Where I work (a preschool), the masks really do not do a whole lot of good. Neither did gargling every 30 minutes of the day. Last year, I kid you not, kids wore masks to school EVERYDAY, we gargled, washed hands, set the humidity up to 60%, ventilated, disinfected, you name it. Most of the kids still got sick! Half the class got the flu. Parents blamed us teachers for not separating them enough while they were eating and for making them take off their masks while they were singing. Go figure
Sarge at 03:53 PM JST - 28th April

It's the year 2009 AD, and half the population of Japan wears surgical masks. If I suffered from pollen allergy, I would definitely do something about all these cedar trees.
helloklitty at 04:58 PM JST - 28th April

"As for why people might use masks... for the life of me, no one here covers their mouth when the cough" oh you mean like what western people do? put their fist or open palm in front of their face when they cough. yeah thats really effective!

I'm Western and cough and sneeze into my elbow. It's the new etiquette. Sheesh!
helloklitty at 04:59 PM JST - 28th April

Where I work (a preschool), the masks really do not do a whole lot of good. Neither did gargling every 30 minutes of the day. Last year, I kid you not, kids wore masks to school EVERYDAY, we gargled, washed hands, set the humidity up to 60%, ventilated, disinfected, you name it. Most of the kids still got sick! Half the class got the flu.

Did they disinfect their desks after eating? Tons of germs right there.
morical at 05:37 PM JST - 28th April

I actually think wearing those masks is quite cool. It merely shows other people that you have respect towards them. I'd wear them too in case of allergies.
TokyoXtreme at 06:49 PM JST - 28th April

Japanese Heaven is a place where people don white masks and queue up for eternity.
Bento at 02:29 PM JST - 29th April

counter intuitive it may be but to to build an effective immune system you must expose it to germs and irritants not protect it from infection..this is the way all vaccines work, low level exposure..it is as true for cedar pollen as it was for small pox originally.
billyshears at 02:38 PM JST - 29th April

Parents blamed us teachers for not separating them enough while they were eating and for making them take off their masks while they were singing. Go figure

You should have made them keep on their masks while they were eating.
Den Den at 11:56 PM JST - 29th April

Masks are warm, damp places. Ideal for germs to grow...
mirkwood at 11:42 PM JST - 30th April

The main problem? Its the cedar tress!!!! Do something about them. Then we could all cut down on wearing masks.