“What’s wrong with your faaaace?”
Apparently, Roger Ebert and William Gibson have discovered that Japan has a thing for surgical masks. This is true. Japan does have a thing for surgical masks. They are worn as protection from both allergens and airborne illnesses. They’re available in most every convenience store, at a variety of price points. (Here are some examples from 2009.) When I visited Japan, I saw old people wearing them. But now, they’re a hot new trend among young people. And according to…