SNA (Tokyo) — Wearing face masks has become controversial in Japan as the nation enters the third summer since the Covid pandemic began.

The government has been changing its guidance to the public in recent weeks. A document published by online by the Ministry of Health states that people are no longer advised to put on masks while outdoors, even when they talk, so long as they keep an appropriate social distance from others of about two meters or more. Indoors, it counsels that people do not have to wear masks if they keep social distance and do not talk.

The urgency of this advice relates to the heat of summer and the need to reduce the frequency of heat stroke. While many people may regard the wearing of face masks as an exercise of proper caution, this is not necessarily the case when the prevention of heat stroke is factored in.

Since last year, the ministry had been counseling people to avoid extreme exercise while wearing face masks.

Heat stroke is a major health concern in Japan–not only due to the record-breaking heat wave experienced in the last week, but also in previous years. In July 2021, for example, approximately 21,300 people were transported to the hospital by ambulance due to heat stroke.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno has personally commented on this issue. He told reporters that “wearing masks outside is not necessarily needed,” pointing to the fact that the risk of heat stroke is higher when temperatures and humidity rise.

Nevertheless, most people in Japan seem reluctant to take off their face masks in public despite the government announcements. This may be in part because of social pressure to be considerate to others and possibly because many Japanese still fear Covid infection regardless of the relatively low death rate.

The government seems to have its work cut out for it in order to convince most Japanese to follow their latest health guidance.

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