Japan's Multi-Billion Yen 'Abema Mask' Faces Backlash... "Too Small to Use"

Mask size too small on Cheon Mask, raising doubts about quarantine effectiveness
Direct delivery to homes criticized for excessive shipping fees

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] It has been reported that the Japanese government is facing a flood of public complaints regarding the so-called 'Abe masks,' which are being distributed to every household with a budget of several hundred billion yen. Complaints have arisen that the masks are too small to use and that the effectiveness of cloth masks is questionable, leading to skepticism about the entire cloth mask distribution plan.

According to local Japanese media such as the Mainichi Shimbun on the 16th, complaints were raised that the cloth masks, which the Japanese government began delivering nationwide the previous day, are too small. People who used the cloth masks that arrived first at nursing homes and welfare facilities before being sent to all households nationwide have expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "The size is too small, so the mask loosens when talking, making it difficult to use, and it hurts because it rubs against the ears." Especially in elderly care facilities with many hearing-impaired patients, where large masks covering the face are essential due to the need for the elderly to speak close to the mouth near the ear, it is reported that many places find it difficult to use the masks provided by the government.

Since Prime Minister Abe announced on the 1st that two cloth masks would be distributed to every household nationwide, there has been continuous backlash questioning the effectiveness of the government-provided masks for infection prevention. Critics pointed out that giving only two small cloth masks, which are not specialized virus-blocking masks, is a waste of budget. Previously, the Japanese government announced that it would spend a total budget of 46.6 billion yen (approximately 527 billion won) on product purchase and delivery.

In a telephone opinion poll conducted by Japan's Kyodo News from the 10th to the 13th over four days targeting Japanese voters, 76.2% of respondents evaluated the government's mask distribution plan negatively. There are also criticisms that the delivery cost for direct shipment to every household is excessively high, and that a plan allowing anyone to relatively easily purchase masks at nearby stores is needed rather than delivery.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.