"Surprisingly Popular"... Japan's 'Abe Mask' Facing Disposal Gains Unexpected Popularity

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The so-called "Abe Mask," introduced during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe but later deemed a burden, is gaining unexpected popularity as it faces disposal.

The "Abe Mask," distributed by Abe for protective purposes, was criticized for its cramped design that barely covered adults' noses and mouths, and many defective products led to public rejection. As a result, the entire stock was decided to be discarded, and it is currently being distributed for free to those who want it.

On the 11th, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced, "The free distribution of Abe Masks to the general public and local governments, which began on the 24th of last month, is receiving more interest than expected," adding, "The application period will be extended by 14 days until the 28th."

From the 24th of last month to the 6th of this month, the Japanese government reportedly received about 85,000 applications. This averages over 6,000 applications per day. Although the exact distribution volume has not been disclosed, since applications can be made in units of 100 masks, at least 8.5 million masks are expected to be distributed.

A Japanese netizen posted on Twitter last month, saying "Abenomask is too good to throw away, so I use it to polish my shoes," "#Abenomask useful uses," along with a photo. Photo by Twitter capture

Meanwhile, since the free distribution began on the 24th of last month, Japanese netizens have responded with comments such as "This is perfect for polishing shoes" and "It’s fine to use as medical gauze."

However, following the announcement of the extension of the application period, negative reactions also emerged, including "Who on earth is using these?" and "Isn't someone applying for a huge amount alone?" There were also opinions like "Since the shipping is free, I just want to receive one first."

On the other hand, even with the extension of the free distribution application period, it is expected to be difficult to eliminate all the Abe Mask stock. A Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare official stated, "Even if the number of applicants increases over the next two weeks, achieving 'zero disposal volume' is impossible." The mask disposal process will begin in March of this year.

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