Endless masking in Japan: the majority waits for the majority to unmask
So after all the hype about the government lifting its request for indoor masking, did the Japanese people finally breathe freely again en masse from 13th March? If you think the answer is “Yes”, all I can say is that you must be new round here.
Opinion polls in the run up to Mask Freedom Day suggested that most people would either keep masking or “see how it goes” (i.e. follow the majority), with only 10-20% saying they wanted unmask. Opinion polls aren’t always representative, but these ones were depressingly accurate. In an observational survey of thousands of people in the entertainment district of Shimbashi in Tokyo (pictured below) on Monday evening, only 11% of people were unmasked.
The myriad reasons people give for endless masking will be familiar to readers of this blog: belief that masks work, peer-pressure, unwillingness to stand out and get accusative looks, a complex about one’s appearance, fear of being thought of negatively, etc. But I’ve never heard anyone say they wear masks outside of work/school because of the government’s request, so there was no reason to think the government lifting its request was going to make much difference. And it hasn’t.
So what will it take for the majority of Japanese to unmask? I’ll let the guy below answer for me.
In other words, the majority will unmask when the majority unmasks. It’s gonna be a while.
I hope it never ends. For once in my life I am the Alpha male. Every time I get on the train or walk into a shop, the women come aflockin' to the maskless wonder, me. Granted, their average age is about 76 but I'll take it. This morning, I thanked two betas for their mask wearing. " More oxygen for me. Less for you." I also have thought of starting a new political party: 酸素党, The Oxygen Party.
It is going to take more than just a while. Here is a machine translated email from my kid’s school.
“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in our school's educational activities.
By the way, as reported in the media, from March 13, 2023, the wearing of masks by citizens and businesses will be left to the discretion of individuals. Based on the content of the notification, new guidelines are currently being considered by the Board of Education, etc.
At school, except for the graduation ceremony, the initiative will start from April 1st. For school educational activities other than graduation ceremonies during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, please continue to take measures to prevent infection using the current guidelines.”
There are still requiring schools to remain masked. My kids though they could go mask free from Monday. Nope. Still forced to Mokushoku too. My med school just sent out an email telling us teachers that we must be masked for our first on campus meeting in three years set for after the 1st of April. I have been told that I will have to wear a mask and face shield for the Zoom classes I’ll have to run from campus. They can not have students on campus all day, therefore the afternoon classes will be over Zoom. Until the medical profession decides to get back to practicing medicine, this will not end. As long as doctors are running around panicked like children afraid of thunder, the rest of society that had foolishly looked to these idgits for guidance, this does not end.