Pandemic Activity: Make a Mask
Wearing face mask in crowded places is a norm, and an etiquette in Japan. In Western countries, it has different connotation and negative interpretation. Shortly after COVID-19 started in Asia, it triggered a global shortage in surgical mask supply. There is no doubt we need to quickly think of alternatives, and cloth masks is a no-brainer choice.
In the beginning of the pandemic, when I asked a friend in Italy if he needed any help to get face masks he said, "Thank you for asking. No one wears mask here, so I won't wear one for fear of being stared and called names."
These is also a lack of organized information in western languages on why and how. It was difficult even to get anyone interested in helping with translation in the beginning. People are afraid to do something they are unfamiliar with, and out of the norm.
In Japan, out of the many reasons of mask-wearing, it is also a simple and polite gesture to show that you are being considerate and thinking about other people. And in a time when all our health care workers are facing huge challenge in fighting the battle for us, why not make a mask?
