Today, I want to talk about a mask mandate situation in Japan. People have been wearing masks for almost three years due to the pandemic. But now, finally, the Japanese government has announced that wearing masks is no longer mandatory even in indoor spaces. It is up to each individual to decide whether or not to wear one based on their own perspective. However, something strange is happening. People are still very willing to continue wearing masks and don't seem to be taking them off anytime soon. Based on my observations, about 80% of people are still wearing masks outdoors and 99% of people are wearing masks indoors.

But don't get me wrong, I'm not here to say that people should stop wearing masks regardless of their will or condition. I understand that there are people with underlying conditions or have family members who have some disorders which make them need to protect themselves from getting infected. It's totally understandable.

But the point is, most people are wearing masks for the sake of conformity. No one wants to be given a cold look by people around them for behaving differently from others in our closed community. I believe that peer pressure is a common phenomenon in Japan and it seems to play a role in people's decision to wear masks.

However, as an adult, I think it's an irresponsible attitude not to take actions based on your own thoughts or beliefs.

Just to be clear, I'm not anti-mask as I have been wearing one for three years, believing it's necessary for me and others as well. However, at times, I wonder how long people will keep doing this - until we die in maybe 30 or 40 years' time? It's ridiculous to me to keep covering our faces with masks when we are okay with eating out, drinking alcohol with others, or even throwing a party.

I believe that if more people stop wearing masks, others may also follow suit as the weather gets hotter and more humid in the coming months. But I hope that people can stop and reflect on whether they are making decisions based on their own situation and thoughts or just following the crowd. It's important to be responsible for our own actions and not just blindly conform.