Date face mask
{{Short description|Person wearing a face mask for non-hygienic purposes}}
{{Sources|date=May 2023}}
Date face mask ({{nihongo|Date-masuku|だてマスク{{lang|en| or }}伊達マスク}}), refers to a person in Japan who wears a surgical mask for a non-medical or non-hygienic purpose. The date face mask became more common in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
= 2009 swine flu pandemic =
After the 2009 swine flu pandemic, some young people in urban areas continued to wear face masks.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-14|url=https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/48509|title=《小学生にも増加》"だてマスク依存症"の実態「『自分は繊細だと思っている人』はコロナ収束後もマスクを手放せない」|publisher=文春オンライン|accessdate=2023-05-23}}{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
= Covid-19 pandemic =
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in Japan in early 2020, the government of Japan, authorities{{Who|date=May 2023}}, companies, and schools required people to wear masks outside of private residences.{{Cite web|date=2023-05-01|url=https://www.travelcaffeine.com/japan-face-masks-rules-recommendations-reality/|title=Face Masks in Japan: Rules v. Reality (2023) |publisher=Travelcaffeine|accessdate=2023-05-26}}
From May 2022, the government of Japan said, "people who are outdoors don't need to use masks, indoors, they must use it in crowded areas. (However, the government of Japan said "Face masks are not required when you are not talking with others, and not at close range indoors, but wear masks when talking with others at close range outdoors.)"{{Cite web|date=|url=https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/maskuse_en.pdf|title=MASK WEARING IN JAPAN|publisher=The government of Japan(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)|accessdate=2023-05-23}}{{Cite web|date=2022-05-20|url=https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000941323.pdf|title=マスクの着用の考え方及び就学前児の取扱いについて|publisher=厚生労働省|accessdate=2023-05-23}}
On 10 February 2023, the government of Japan officially said using a face mask was a personal choice as of 13 March.{{Cite web|date=2023-02-10|url=https://corona.go.jp/en/toppage/pdf/en.wearing_mask_20230313.pdf|title=Mask Use Guidance Starting From 13 March 2023|publisher=The government of Japan|accessdate=2023-05-16}} Many people continued to wear masks, especially indoors. A report from Nippon TV, on 10 April 2023, found that 85.6% of pedestrians near Tokyo Station were still masked.{{Cite web|date=2023-05-16|url=https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/f11ddb75d4064eea9cd24a65a92d615d|title=マスク"個人の判断"まもなく1か月…着用率は大きく減らず 東京駅前映像のAI解析で|publisher=日本テレビ|accessdate=2023-04-21}}
Motivations
Those who wear face masks for non-medical or non-hygienic purposes cite multiple motivations. These include:
- A sense of calm or security{{Cite web|date=2011-01-29|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/imakodomo/TKY201101290200.html|title=マスクで隠す素の自分 よそおう―1|publisher=asahi.com|accessdate=2023-05-16}}
- Avoiding public scolding
- Insecurities related to one's face
- Concealing one's identity
- Avoiding conversations
- Having more confidence when in conversations
- Concealing facial expressions
- To hide sleepiness at work
- Cosmetic purpose to moisturize lips and face from dryness when sleeping.
- UV protection
- Concealing that they are not wearing makeup or not clean shaven
- Prevention of an unpleasant smell from breath
- An appeal to sympathy, as might be extended to unwell/sick people