Face Masks during COVID

Currently, masks seem to have regained their health related purpose again. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, masks have become even further integrated in Japanese society, since they are worn on a daily basis. Similarly, the mask industry also greatly expanded and now includes many companies which previously did not fabricate face masks, such as Japanese lingerie brands and high fashion brands. These businesses also focus increasingly on mask innovation and design in order to make masks more convenient and equally fashionable for everyday wear. And so the connection between masks and the beauty and fashion industry has become even stronger, since masks have become integrated in everyday life. This integration may be evident from several multipurpose masks, which can be worn during various daily activities such as the masks depicted in figure 7 and 8.

It seems that mask-wearing in Japan has come full circle; from losing its health protective purpose to regaining it, whilst fully integrating as a multipurpose device into Japanese society. However, whether this high level of face mask integration will remain after the pandemic subsides is still uncertain.For more on the history of masks, see Martin 2020