Japanese people have the custom of wearing a mask throughout winter and spring in the first place.

It is a good way to prevent having a cold or the flu, or even giving them to someone else in the winter time.

In the spring time, many people in Japan have hay fever (or pollen allergies) so that wearing a mask is a must!

That’s why wearing a mask is not a special thing for Japanese people, but wearing a mask all year around is not normal.

It is only because of the current situation with Covid-19.

By the way, the photo below is the mask distributed to all the citizens in Japan by the Abe administration in the year 2020, which is called “Abenomask” or “Abe’s mask.”

They are “gauze” masks, but most people wear “non-woven” masks in Japan now.

Furthermore, Abe’s mask is too small for adults so that there are not so many people who actually used them.
My husband and I did not use them either.

But I do not throw them away, and our Abe’s masks are sitting in the corner of my closet.

This is because of the “mottainai” spirit we have.

Mottainai is a Japanese word meaning “unfortunate and regrettable that the thing in front of you is (or is going to be) wasted or thrown away, without being well considered on its actual or potential values.”

Following my “mottainai” spirit, I’m thinking or transforming my Abe’s mask into something else, for example a kitchen cloth with “sashiko” embroidery.

(Read an article about “sashiko embroidery.”)