Easy Japanese 14 - Why do Japanese wear masks?

Learn Japanese with Easy Japanese: The new year has started and Mona asks people about the New Year's resolutions they made for 2015.
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Join us on Facebook: / easyjapanese.aritv
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GLOSSARY:
すっぴん/suppin/ without makeup; not wearing makeup
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Easy Languages is an international video project aiming at supporting people worldwide to learn languages through authentic street interviews. We also use this format to expose our street culture abroad and create a more diverse image of our countries. Episodes are produced in local languages and contain subtitles in both the original language as well as in English.
Facebook:
/ easylanguagestreetinte...
Info:
www.easy-languages.org
Host of this episode: Mona Kumagai
Camera and Edit: Lisa Waagd
Transcription and Subtitle Producation: Hideo Adachi
Co-Producer: Hideo Adachi
Special thanks to: Daitetsu Ono & Minori Nakamura
Produced by: Ari-Tv - www.ari-tv.jp

[@Lalabaer]

When I went to Japan I actually had the feeling that many people also liked wearing the masks because it gave them some sort of privacy. It reminded me of how younger people in japan (mostly women) also tend to cover their face with their hands when they talk or laugh.

[@k.t8174]

In my perspective, I think hiding their mouth by their hand when they're laughing is a bit お上品 for us. Or may be かわいい。 I guess in America as well(I've never been to America, so Idk well tho), some people hide their mouth I guess. My friends never behave like that.

[@justraven7526]

2020 World : why are you not wearing mask ?

[@based9930]

because they don't do anything

[@based9930]

@H not for viruses

[@Japchik]

H not for viruses

[@NazKam]

anyone here during coronavirus 2019/20?

[@dogdyedblack]

I've been recommending this video since the crisis started to people to help them understand different cultural dispositions to masks. What's interesting to me is that nobody here says what has become received wisdom: that people in E. Asia do it to protect others.

[@joergw.8244]

@@dogdyedblack Not protest, but protect. But this is true, and it's totally different to Western thinking.

[@dogdyedblack]

@@joergw.8244 sorry, yes, protect--either a slip or an autocorrect. I'll edit it that now....

[@samshah1533]

this way before covid because of air polution.

[@Aditi-mb3qm]

@@joergw.8244 Not the whole Asia but, only specifically Japan, Philippines, Thailand or Korea maybe. Even I'm an Asian and here its really an alien thing to wear a mask. If anyone will wear a mask here people will either ask the person if some flue or virus is spreading or something? And get worried or either think that that person's sick and avoid that person. I remember when I was small a flue had spread it was all over the news, so my Mom send me to school by making me put mask on, I was made such fun of at school I had to take it off it and refused to wear it the next day. Even during Corona now, many people were refusing to wear a mask, government had to impose a fine for not wearing one to enforce that everyone wears one. In our country there's a lot of dust around because of climatic reasons, if you ride a scooter you need something to cover your mouth and nose so people instead of buying a mask used to cover it with a scarf of something. Here mask is related with people working in medical fields. This time is far more that the everyone is wearing a mask because of being forced to. I think its because of the culture, like in Japan you're encouraged to go with the flow, to blend in the background, to not stand out Which is not the case here or I think in western culture aswell, it's like you are encouraged to stand out, individuality is stresses upon. Covering your face is not encouraged unless its for religious purpose. Many people even if religiously obliged don't really cover the face, unless if its really obligbline for that person and us I can't say for all. So it's like everywere its different and Asia is very big, the biggest continent so is very diverse so are its countries. In Asia what is true for in one place is not for the other. Westerns are like everyone in Asia has small eyes look the same but it's not the case, people are diverse, some Asians look life Europeans, all Asians don't have small eyes, its really very big and diverse.

[@bendumonde]

I can't understand a word of Japanese, but it's a really interesting video and I learned something new ^_^

[@saborivaille1258]

When I was sick in Japan I bought some masks and went around wearing them. I get back home (Australia) and had a terrible spluttering cough. So I decided to wear them on the train. Everyone stared at me. SORRY FOR BEING CONSIDERATE!!

[@oparasatauwaya]

Yea its weird how covering your face is a big thing in the west but really isn't so much of a thing in eastern cultures.. In Japan, China, Thailand or the Philippines you can wear a surgical mask for colds/flus or to avoid pollution (they all have the "conbini" culture so you can buy them everywhere) without much of anyone caring, but you'd get panicked looks from other passers by in Aus, the US or the UK, and they're hard to get unless you go onto somewhere like amazon

[@Alexander_Kale]

It's not weird at all. Western culture is expressive, outwards, and encourages individuality. Eastern culture meanwhile, especially Japanese, encourages you to not stick out, to go with the flow, to blend into the background. It would not be surprised if the whole mask thing eventually escalates to the point where everyone does it, and no one remembers the original reason, the supposed Health benefit or the need to be "considerate".

[@violetta202]

​@@Alexander_Kale if western culture encourages individuality so much, in the train the other people would not stared at him. the use of mask can be because tokyo train or bus are overcrowded. maybe outside tokyo they don't use masks so much. example: watch?v=iwbPdF5dIgQ.

[@Alexander_Kale]

@@violetta202 "in the train the other people would not stared at him" - Bullshit. Noticing patterns and exceptions to them is what humans DO. We are literally hardwired to notice differences.

[@violetta202]

@@Alexander_Kale not only human are hardwired to notice difference, but all animals: infact exist mimicry as a tool for catch or elude predator. but notice something is a different thing from watch someone in a persistent way, and japanese seems that although notice someone wears a mask, no give two shit. that can be because they are introvert or so free minded to accept that someone can wears fancy thing.

[@bltches]

They were way ahead of us already

[@based9930]

In pretending. It obviously didn't work there either.

[@erosheve]

Thank you very much! A wonderful video, very interesting and vivid! ))

[@AprilTeniente-eu1mj]

You’re right. Many years ago, people wore face masks in the past years, especially 2020. At least I stayed home and waited for one year before my vaccine shot was there to help. And then I was fully vaccinated!! My parents were glad I was vaccinated!

[@languages170]

Thanks for this video 😊👍

[@NikOzerov360]

"Why do Japanese wear masks?" Now that's the good question)))

[@andrewl5201]

thank you for addressing this

[@Japchik]

It’s been 9 years, hope you’re doing great in life

[@JeramieSaito]

Thanks

[@737tech]

Interesting. I always wondered about that. Silly about the ones that are hiding their no makeup face, they have no idea that they are so pretty without makeup..

[@onyxbg]

That is a whole different subject there, dude!

[@Roosyer]

That's stupid. Not at all pretty and some of them are smart to cover up.

[@Mr.Jasaw13]

They are wearing it cus they don't want any subjective judgement...like, any ... With a mask you can't be expected to look certain way or smile certain way

[@ariannelady5613]

日本語を勉強してここに入りました。ビデオを作ったありがとうございます。

[@slytha3002]

まだ日本語を勉強したいまさか？

[@cha.felino]

暖かいっていう理由はびっくりした😲

[@jeremiecruz2117]

今 日本語 を 勉強してる ので トピック は 役に立つと思います。そして、レポーター は いつも 元気そうですね。もっと 日本についてのビデオ を 作って 下さい。どうも。

[@_ikamaru_9054]

日本語の上手ですね

[@k.t8174]

頑張って～😆😆

[@stephengantenbein6019]

What if I told them that a face without makeup usually looks better than a face with a mask?

[@kakibackup2koujo612]

What if you are Wrong

[@wolftaffy2162]

+Simmekakibackup2 Koujo what if I told you that an opinion can't be wrong

[@Name-xe4le]

They only listen to their very society that they need to blend in. That's a very strong force in Japan.

[@Mr.Jasaw13]

They would tell you, you didn't get the point ... They don't want any subjective judgement when they are out and about

[@based9930]

So wear a bag

[@OmkarBhatkar]

CoronaVirus in 2020: Let me Introduce Myself...

[@based9930]

No such thing.

[@Aditi-mb3qm]

@@based9930 Do you live on Mars?!!

[@Aditi-mb3qm]

Omkar true 💯

[@based9930]

@@Aditi-mb3qm No, sheep.

[@diemtruc2436]

More video please, good video

[@MJ-vh3rp]

I just want someone to say they just wear it cuz it looks cool cuz I just wish it was for fashion so that I could wear one

[@deathmetalpotato]

Careful what you wish for 😖

[@Aditi-mb3qm]

Be careful what you wish for. Now the whole world has to wear one

[@amka5112]

応援してます,。いつも、楽しんでます。🚀

[@cynhwon]

Actually, a lot of asians have started wearing masks since SARS, and I think part of the reasons has something to do with the working culture as well. Comparatively speaking, it is not uncommon to take sick leave in the West when you are not feeling well so you just stay home. In Asia, particularly in places like Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan, not many can afford to take sick leave when especially you just have a cold (though you may feel unwell and unfit for work). So the one way to avoid spreading the germs would be wearing a mask in the office.

[@kyra7891]

I wish I could wear masks outside too

[@keepitreal8939]

You can now!

[@marceloaguilarsanchez9414]

Yes, you can use it now.

[@griff424]

you have to now lol

[@WhiteI3ulL]

@@kyra7891 Your wishes came true lol

[@juch3]

This comment singlehandedly started it all.

[@Michelle-ht9ch]

Quite a topical subject lol

[@OmkarBhatkar]

***COVID-19 has entered the chat***

[@hieuhaha]

interesting video

[@ジン-p8u]

（２０２０年）コロナウイルス予防だろうか

[@rydrawong1245]

I thought they wore masks mainly against pollution but no one even mentioned that...

[@TheRiordane]

Actually Japan doesn't have air pollution like China or Korea has. So they don't really need it for that reason.

[@samshah1533]

@@TheRiordane I dont know that whats the reason because this video taken precovid japan weared masks ever snice the pandemic happened.

[@xjmmjbnqfstjdijoj2044]

That's mainly in China. The air quality in Japan is pretty good, nobody uses it for air pollution

[@sirisaksirisak6981]

Demo mekane o hokete isho ni kawaii deshoka.

[@eric1035]

Ahead of time

[@Liyang9]

4:25 she is honest ;-)

[@fcmdhyd]

防寒と保湿のためにか。。冬のときつめたいかぜは痛いです。呼吸する時。

[@suredeydo]

What a strange culture. Interesting video!

[@pseudotatsuya]

now not wearing mask is a strange culture during covid

[@yuukiday1810]

コロナあるので

[@Spsuperstar]

Here I thought it was Covid, the main reason.

[@rupeshrai5509]

あなたは とても きれい です。いつも あなたが 作った ビゼオ 見ています。本当に きれい です。私は ネパル人 ですから ネパルから 見ています。

[@BachClarinet]

fun!

[@tinhla5130]

Doomo arigatoogozaimasu

[@fahrizamahendra2959]

Bcz Covid-19 hehe

[@MarcosVinicius-hg4uz]

美人だ

[@xNeverm1ndx]

You have to admire the uniqueness of japanese culture. Seems like globalization is the least at work there. Pretty alien culture at the same time. I wonder if the statistics of the japanese falling ill with the flu is drastically lower than in the most European countries.

[@Angelica-rg2mf]

actually the first thing i thought was: with such little exposure to germs, their immune system must be so weak, i bet the ONE day they go out without the mask they get the flu. Dunno if this makes sense

[@oparasatauwaya]

Not only Japan, its most of the Far East that follows this particular thing (surgical masks)

[@juch3]

@@Angelica-rg2mf yeah this one is probably debunked by now.

[@observer4916]

A LOTTA LOYALTY FOR A HIRED GUN!

[@jaerimkim9627]

韓国でも, もし 冬 を なるならば, マスク を 使うの 人 を たくさんが います. いくたうかのは 風の予防の いゆとか, 違うの いゆが あるので, いゆは たくさんが ありますよね. すむません, 俺の 日本語は 一寸 悪いので.

[@k.t8174]

理由(りゆう)=reason May be you were trying to say reason? Actually it's not いゆ。but I think it's good Japanese! Good luck!

[@ImperialEarthEmpire]

people in my country too stubborn to wear a mask even during unhealthy haze... gosh...

[@wolftaffy2162]

Because when the human body isn't exposed to disease the immune system becomes weak making the body weaker towards infection and disease which is why the flu and cold shots were created to build up natural resistance towards them so wearing the gas mask will make you weaker except for when the disease will kill you but there isn't an outbreak of anything like that even the Ebola virus in the U.S. The country basically went into panic for just a couple of cases not even ten people but since we're constantly exposed to disease we get stronger like exercising we get weaker to a point if we don't do it so not wearing the masks is just making us stronger

[@2259r3z]

The US did not go "into panic" over the media-manufactured Ebola hype, "basically" or otherwise. Stop exaggerating, projecting your own subjective reality, and believing everything the scare mongering media tells you to fear this week. The US is a country of over 320 million people, the vast majority of whom pay little or no attention to that clickbait nonsense.

[@StrengthLegacy]

You might be living under a rock but yes Ebola hype made most people go into panic mode.

[@StrengthLegacy]

It's literally just a mask, not some sort of grand uniqueness of culture people lmao....

[@MarkyTeriyakiShorts]

Masks became real real quick

[@NanacaKogarashi]

iine

[@thepanafricanman]

Ah ok i thought it had to do with chemtrails

[@hhzmaung]

there is nothing better than masks.

[@dumpling3309]

Well now the world wears a mask.

[@k.t8174]

俺昔全然マスクつけなかったけど、着けてる人の気持ちが全然わからなかった。

[@baeeeroo5228]

I feel safe when I use it 👍👍

[@marganzamaharail7936]

予防

[@davedoesdave4232]

aye skusta klee if you know what i mean

[@sinayagubi8805]

This might be some sort of Fitra?

[@張子成-s8g]

先知

[@yuiasuka]

よく思うけど、道の真ん中で話す時が多いですね。

[@22.nguyenthingan9a2]

すっぴんので

[@Mr.Jasaw13]

So basically Niqab ..hmm ..interesting

[@SonGoku-pp2kz]

kakashi where are you?

[@joshuamcintyre2530]

i knew they wore them because of the radiation and all that but not because they wanna hide their no-makeup face.

[@saitouchan5423]

マスクかけてもめんぬざいちゃないの？

[@Aditi-mb3qm]

Not any longer. Now everyone has to wear one

[@disdonc6012]

Can the Japanese even speak slowly? ;-)

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

yes but it doesn’t really sound as good or cohesive

[@rossriver75]

Here's the bad part though. Ask people what they do if they have to sneeze. Answer: those sneezes go right into the mask - and accumulate all day. Yecch!

[@FuwaMoigake]

ever heard of changing the mask?

[@rossriver75]

+According to all known laws of aviation, They don't change the mask. If they have a cold, they'd be changing it all day. No, they change it next day. I would just remove the mask for the sneeze, and sneeze into the crux of my arm. Then put the mask back on. The point is that most mask wearers do not seem to care about wearing the dirty mask all day - even though it may have pretty flower decorations!

[@juch3]

@@rossriver75 your sneeze staying inside your mask will not harm you but sneezing without a mask will harm many around you.

[@rossriver75]

@@juch3 Keep in mind this was a pre-corona days comment. But even so, sneezing your mucus drops into a mask and continuing to wear it without a thought is pretty revolting at any time. Go off away from people, sneeze into the crux of your arm, and it should be okay.

[@hu3sto]

I thought they wore them because of the pollution

[@pseudotatsuya]

まあ当時は科学的根拠なんて無しに同調圧力や思い込みで身に付けてたんだろう

[@mauramendes7722]

Terrible ça mask j' déteste