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英語エッセイテーマ

・日本ではマスクが日用品になったことについて

引用元：　Masks in Japan Are Everyday Items

Many people in Japan wear masks on a daily basis when influenza spreads in the winter, or when there is a lot of pollen from Japanese cedars and Japanese cypresses in the air. Ever since the novel coronavirus began to spread, more and more people outside of Japan wear masks in public places. However, many people abroad may find it curious to know that Japanese people have had a culture of wearing masks on a daily basis even before the novel coronavirus spread. Why do many Japanese people wear masks without worrying about how they look to other people? This article looks at the background behind this practice.

More and more people wear masks now in Japan and it is common to see others with masks on. However, masks have not been popular among people in Japan for so long. Masks started to be used in Japan in the 1870s, about 150 years ago. At the time, people working at coal mines and factories wore the masks to protect themselves from dust. It is said that black masks were the most popular as dirt does not stand out with this color.

Incidentally, it is said that the oldest masks in Japan were used by miners in Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, a location that is registered as a World Heritage Site. Known as Fukumen (literally, “lucky masks”), these masks were made by applying persimmon tannin (a liquid produced by fermenting persimmon juice) to several sheets of silk cloth, and then placing the flesh of Japanese plums in between the silk sheets. These Fukumen were essential items for people working at Iwami Ginzan.

These masks demonstrate typically Japanese characteristics. Firstly, they are made using plants that can be found in nature. Secondly, the name Fukumen is actually a play on words: the regular word for mask in Japanese is also pronounced Fukumen but it is written with Kanji characters that mean “masks for covering.” The name for the masks worn by these miners takes the character Fuku (“covering”) and replaces it with another character with the same pronunciation Fuku but with the meaning “lucky.” This play on words shows the tendency of Japanese people to be conscious about words and phrases that have good luck.

Demand for masks increased rapidly in Japan following the spread of influenza in the country starting in 1918. Apparently, informative posters were put up in the streets to encourage people to wear masks at that time. Later, influenza spread again in 1934, and masks grew hugely popular in Japan as a means to prevent infection. From then on, masks became more and more widespread in Japan each time influenza spread. In this way, the practice of wearing a mask if one has a cold or is unwell gradually took root among Japanese people.

Since ancient times, Japan is home to a culture of being considerate of other people around oneself and placing importance on cooperation. These defining characteristics of the Japanese people reinforced their awareness so as to avoid causing trouble to others around them, and this may have made it easier for masks to come into extensive use.

QUESTION

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opinion with reasons based on your knowledge and/or experience.

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