For decades before COVID-19, face masks have been a common sight in Japan, both as a protection against colds and hay fever and to avoid passing sickness on to others. On March 13, 2023, the government dropped its recommendation to wear masks and is now leaving it up to the individual to decide whether to wear a mask or not. Only in places such as medical institutions and on crowded public transportation, the government continues to recommend the use of masks. In practice, many people in Japan continue to wear masks in indoor situations, on public transportation and in busy city streets, although the number of maskless people has greatly increased since May 2023 when this video was captured.
