A Mask for All Seasons

I have strange friends.

While I was in Japan last month — the peak of swine flu pandemonium — my American friend asked me to buy a pack of disposable face masks. “They’re cool! They’re like ninja masks!” he wrote in his email, requesting I buy at least a dozen so that he could parade around with it at night. Very strange.

Any other American would freak out if they saw someone wearing a mask. Bird flu, swine flu, cooties — having a mask on equates to being diseased. On the other hand, wearing a mask in Japan means you’re taking the proper precautions not to catch anything.

The difference in mindset makes way for a greater market for fun and colorful masks. Check these out:

This is a ‘wet’ mask for when your throat is dry. A damp piece of cotton creates a warm mist as you breathe into it:

Having trouble putting a mask on your kid? Give them a Pooh mask!:

Decorate your own mask with rubies and rhinestones:

Have a mask decorating party with all your BFFs!:

There’s so many other types: masks that won’t fog up glasses, masks for small adult faces, masks with menthol filters, and my particular favorite, masks that allow for room around the mouth to breathe. They can otherwise be very uncomfortable to wear. And if you find yourself constantly taking it off to get some fresh air then you’re defeating the purpose of wearing one. That is, unless your only reason for having one is to be a ninja. Woohoo~!

Himawari

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