58: A brief history of mask wearing in Japan w/ Alex Martin

The Japan Times' Alex Martin discusses the history of mask wearing and how it's changed from the Edo Period to the Spanish Flu to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by Oscar Boyd.

Read more:

• The history behind Japan’s love of face masks • (Alex Martin, The Japan Times)

• Masks helped keep Japan's COVID-19 death toll low, says expert panel • (Bloomberg, The Japan Times)

• Face masks in a pandemic: From 'useless' to 'indispensable' • (AFP-Jiji, The Japan Times)

• Japanese shoppers queue and crash website for Uniqlo's washable masks • (The Japan Times)

• Thick, small, bulky: 'Abenomasks' arrive in Tokyo mailboxes • (The Japan Times)

• 'It may save your life': Facing coronavirus surge, more U.S. states mandate masks • (The Japan Times)

• Seven in 10 back mandatory use of masks in shops in England, poll finds • (The Guardian)

• Follow Deep Dive on Twitter •

Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp.

Photo Getty Images