Just as new blooms mark the arrival of spring, we know it¡¯s hay fever season in Japan thanks to an uptick in face masks.
Like anyone who comes to Japan, I¡¯ve flirted with the mask myself on occasion, but never really made a commitment. For me, it was always a gesture of goodwill, showing respect for local customs, whether I believe in them or not. Like clapping and bowing at a shrine ¡ª I feel authentic doing it, even if I don¡¯t really believe it will help.
The face mask never bothered me until I actually came down with the flu. First with a case of ¡°fake flu¡± (aka the common cold), then with an even more severe case of ¡°real flu¡± (aka influenza A). My doctor and my wife urged me to never take off the mask, not even when I was at home alone, for the sake of my family.
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