Japanese offices - wearing masks?

[Taucias]

This youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5OMPhKLhXQ prompted me to ask - do Japanese office workers often wear masks, or is Sega unique? I spotted at least 3 people in this video wearing them.

[Jamtex]

In Japan when people get sick with a cold, rather then not spread it by taking a day off or two they tend to go to work anyway and wear those masks to try to stop spreading germs. Some people will wear them to stop them from catching germs from other sick people. The little masks are quite a common item in chemists.

I am sure Yakumo or Gaijinpunch will come here and have a rant about that...

[spot778]

Very, very common ! I saw lots.

[Yakumo]

Wearing a mask in Japan is just as common as putting on a pair of pants. Seems normal to me however I never wear the things. Japanese seem to have really poor imune systems due to all the bloody meds they take so I guess they need these masks now.

[H360]

Well if I was on the train and I was in a contaminated room with people with the flu, I would wear one.
Sure in western society you look like a retarded germaphobe maniac, but I would not care at all, knowing I would not catch what they have.

If I was sick and had to use public transport, and I was coughing like mad, I would also too wear it to prevent others catching my germs.

It just being a polite person, not like in Australia anyone would care ^_^

[XxHennersXx]

I used to see asian women on the bus in America with masks. Probably out od habit.

[spot778]

I also heard its good for hay fever and the like.

[alecjahn]

I saw an older white lady wearing one while driving the other day.

I would wear one, too, if everyone didn't automatically assume I was some weirdo or wannabe otaku wiener.

They make a lot of sense.

[HEX1GON]

Wish people over hear would wear one when they're sick. Sneezing on handles and coughing in their hands and using ticket machines etc. :/

[H360]

ARE THOSE JET PACKS?!?!?!?!?!

[Importaku]

Yes kids in japan travel to work that way, quicker than taking the underground LOL. Bet theres a crazy amount of books in that randoseru i wonder how they can even walk with the weight.

[GaijinPunch]

In Japan when people get sick with a cold, rather then not spread it by taking a day off or two they tend to go to work anyway and wear those masks to try to stop spreading germs.

That's great in theory. Most of them are just fucking paranoid.