General Discussion

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts) Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:01 PM Oct 2013

Dear DU members knowledgeable about Japan...I have a burning question

Many outdoor scenes in Tokyo show people walking around with white face masks..what we call surgical masks.
Why are people wearing them?

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

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Dear DU members knowledgeable about Japan...I have a burning question (Original Post) dixiegrrrrl Oct 2013 OP

Pollution but some germ-a-holics also. fitman Oct 2013 #1

I asked when I was in Japan landolfi Oct 2013 #2

You made me realize an important distinction dixiegrrrrl Oct 2013 #5

The Japanese are taught from an early age to be considerate of others. Spreading kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #9

Exactly. As a westerner, that really struck me about Japanese culture: landolfi Oct 2013 #12

Yes, not only is it cultural, but more of a necessity. High density populations have different issue okaawhatever Oct 2013 #13

I know others here know a lot more about Japan than I do Autumn Colors Oct 2013 #3

FYI, there is nothing wring with splitting an infinitive. tblue37 Oct 2013 #11

they live downwind from China? pscot Oct 2013 #4

Germs, they don't want to get sick, or they are sick and don't want to spread germs. Skraxx Oct 2013 #6

Depending on what happens in Fukushima, they might all need hazmat suits. LuvNewcastle Oct 2013 #7

They are showing concern for their fellow citizens 1-Old-Man Oct 2013 #8

They are exquisitely clean in their habits. No litter anywhere; hand cleaner dispensers everywhere.. northoftheborder Oct 2013 #10

The inability to clean the mess near Fukishima dixiegrrrrl Oct 2013 #14

Someone said online last night that air pollution is a known carcinogen. applegrove Oct 2013 #15

fitman

(482 posts)

1. Pollution but some germ-a-holics also.

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:03 PM

Oct 2013

A friend of the family lives in China..wears a mask..comes home and the front is black...yeah the pollution is that bad where he lives.

landolfi

(234 posts)

2. I asked when I was in Japan

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:05 PM

Oct 2013

and they told me it was to ensure they didn't spread their cold to others. It was very strange to be sitting in a meeting talking about IT issues with a guy wearing a surgical mask.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

5. You made me realize an important distinction

Reply to landolfi (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:20 PM

Oct 2013

"They wear it to not spread their cold to others"
and my first thought was I would wear one to not CATCH someone else's cold/flu.
Sigh...

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

9. The Japanese are taught from an early age to be considerate of others. Spreading

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #5)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:29 PM

Oct 2013

cold/flu germs around is a big social no-no there.

Americans, of course, would never do such a thing on a national scale because they are too concerned about their own personal appearance and comfort to give a shit about spreading germs.

landolfi

(234 posts)

12. Exactly. As a westerner, that really struck me about Japanese culture:

Reply to kestrel91316 (Reply #9)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:20 PM

Oct 2013

The culture itself is considerate and all about being considerate of others.

okaawhatever

(9,462 posts)

13. Yes, not only is it cultural, but more of a necessity. High density populations have different issue

Reply to landolfi (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:23 PM

Oct 2013

than we do. The Japanese culture is based on courtesy and kindness, respect for elders, etc. but it's also a necessity for dense populations to take precautions to ensure survival.

Autumn Colors

(2,379 posts)

3. I know others here know a lot more about Japan than I do

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:07 PM

Oct 2013

... but isn't it considered something of an impoliteness in that country for someone who is sick with a cold/flu NOT to wear one of those when in public places (to keep their germs from speading)?

Here, the mask wearer would be considered a person paranoid about spreading germs, but I think the attitude in Japan is very different -- probably because the population density is so much higher there.

EDIT: To fix my split infinitive. Oops ... haha

tblue37

(65,403 posts)

11. FYI, there is nothing wring with splitting an infinitive.

Reply to Autumn Colors (Reply #3)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 03:01 PM

Oct 2013

Even the Oxford English Dictionary considers the split infinitive acceptable.

(BTW, I am an actual grammar guru myself: http://grammartips.homestead.com )

pscot

(21,024 posts)

4. they live downwind from China?

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:07 PM

Oct 2013

which burns more coal than anyone else.

Skraxx

(2,977 posts)

6. Germs, they don't want to get sick, or they are sick and don't want to spread germs.

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:21 PM

Oct 2013

LuvNewcastle

(16,846 posts)

7. Depending on what happens in Fukushima, they might all need hazmat suits.

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:22 PM

Oct 2013

1-Old-Man

(2,667 posts)

8. They are showing concern for their fellow citizens

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 02:25 PM

Oct 2013

What you are seeing is people who have colds or allergies or something else that might make them cough, sneeze, or sniffle. Out of concern for their fellows out in public they cover their face so as not to spread whatever it is they have. I know its nearly impossible for us in this country to conceive of our neighbors being that considerate, but in Japan it is the norm.