Just as new blooms mark the arrival of spring, we know it's hay fever season in Japan thanks to an uptick in face masks.
Like anyone who comes to Japan, I've flirted with the mask myself on occasion, but never really made a commitment. For me, it was always a gesture of goodwill, showing respect for local customs, whether I believe in them or not. Like clapping and bowing at a shrine — I feel authentic doing it, even if I don't really believe it will help.
The face mask never bothered me until I actually came down with the flu. First with a case of "fake flu" (aka the common cold), then with an even more severe case of "real flu" (aka influenza A). My doctor and my wife urged me to never take off the mask, not even when I was at home alone, for the sake of my family.
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