Interesting history on why Asians wear surgical masks more often than people in Western cultures: https://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-surgical-masks-in-public/ Seems to stem from religion.
Within that very interesting article I read "Studies have found that among many young Japanese, masks have evolved into social firewalls; perfectly healthy teens now wear them, along with audio headsets, to signal a lack of desire to communicate with those around them. This is particularly true for young women seeking to avoid harassment on public transit, who also appreciate the relative anonymity the masks provide." How interesting in respect of the above to hear from a landlord locally that when he took water containers to a family of Japanese renters (one mother and two teenage daughters) they were all standing around in the living room totally naked and seemed not to care about him seeing them. This ties up with something else I read about Japanese culture in relation to use of pornography in public and nudity in swimming baths.
Japanese culture is very strange. I'm suspicious of any Japanese that does something I believe to be normal.
I go to the public bath from time to time for the past 29 years and recently, I once a week. It’s a good place to spend my two hour spare time before heading for my second job and I get my 1,234 yen’s worth with jacuzzi, steam baths and outdoor pools. I’ve never seen pornography going on and phones aren’t allowed even in the locker rooms. Yes it can be explained simply as a “culture thing” where foreigners are tolerated to experience but they believe it’s only their thing.
Public transportation is a huge part in Japan living and as grown woman, it is expected to wear make up. The mask is a handy tool when running late for work. Also, the trains are very crowded. In the morning, people still smell good but imagine how it is on the last train at night.
I did not mean that physical pornographic behaviour was happening in public places - I read that pornographic magazines are on sale on lower shelves accessible by children and not thought shameful to be read in public by an adult (e.g a person reading one on a train would not put it inside a newspaper to read but would read it openly). Also, I read that as men/woman go to different parts of a public baths and pass through other genders' areas, they would not feel it necessary to wear clothes. I could try to find the article on Google again if you wish to be aware of it - but if you are living in Japan then you would, of course, know by direct experience. Maybe it was just false news.
Like any other country, there’s always what the Japanese label as 不良(furyou) which refers to the following: defective goods, delinquent, hoodlum, worthless, inferior/poor quality, etc. who displays bad behavior and are not worth the “San” as when saying Mr. so and so but becomes a “thing” rather than an individual and is commonly called “aitsu” (that thing)/“koitsu”(this thing). The pornography on the lower shelves in convenient stores is true. I don’t get it too. But it’s not true that people don’t care being seen naked even to those they have very personal relationship with i.e., family member who reaches puberty stage unless they’re inside the public bath. I don’t think I would ever get an invitation even from those I have decades of friendship with to be in the same bath together even though I try to adapt to the culture and here people say, “29 years? then, you’re one of us now”. It’s not true that both genders see each other naked in public areas. They provide a “room wear”-either a pajama type or a “yukata” kimono which you are expected to wear an underwear. The “uniform” (men and women wear different colors) provides easy management and puts the customers at ease when they go for a bite at the restaurant or go to the smoking room. I did break the rule one time at a hotel in Izu Peninsula, very early in the morning, the outdoor pool was so scenic and I was alone so I had my camera on timer mode and took a souvenir pic but I hurriedly went back to our room and luckily, I wasn’t caught. However, there are what they call “family room” with baths exclusively for the group but it’s subject to the receptionist’s judgment. Also, the crew is always around cleaning, checking water temperatures and whatever. This is just one of the few things in Japan that I would miss when I go home-a place where I can be alone and relax even in a crowd, feel good and ready again to face my day. Here’s a website of my favorite spot, sorry there’s no English...expect funny English when you find one. http://www.sportsoasis.co.jp/spagardish/
I believe in Japan you aren't supposed to be making eye contact with other people in public. Watching them look at porn is a violation of their personal space. Don't be so inconsiderate. Lol
I always figured facemasks were just a bra (or briefs) for big lips. You know, anything which bounces while doing jumping jacks needs to be covered
“ma o mamoru” (protecting one’s space) stems from their sports like kendo though the yakuza does the “working stare” which I prefer from a horny one.