Sorry for the laps in my posts everyone. I have been dealing
with a terrible cold that has been traveling amongst all my friends and family,
but I am back to my normal self now. It is this that brings me to today’s topic…
being sick in Japan.
West vs. East
Here in the west we tend to leave it up to everyone else we
encounter on a daily basis to protect themselves from us and our germs. If we
are sick we may take some precautions such as using tissues, but seriously how
often do you see that. In Japan, and much of the east for that matter, it is
reversed. It is up to the person who is currently sick to protect others from
their sickness. In reality this is a better method for the sole fact that it
can be difficult to tell who you meet is sick or was that just a normal cough
and sneeze.
Masks on trains
One iconic symbol that I am sure most people have seen of
Japan is the rail system. Often you might spot someone riding the train that
has a face mask, or surgical mask, on. Nine chances out of ten they are sick and are wearing said
mask to protect other passengers. They might be a salary man dressed in a full
suit, a little old lady heading out to shop, or a girl in uniform heading to
school but no matter their walk of life they are looking out for other people. This
trend is so prevalent that companies have created designer masks that younger
people tend to buy. These masks are designed to be washable and reusable. You
could have a different mask for different outfits if you wanted to.
If I was in Japan I might not have gotten sick or passed it
around to my family. So keep in mind the health of other people and maybe when
next you are sick wear a mask for others. So until next time…
じゃね。
