The other day a present from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slid into my mailbox. I was not the only recipient. Every household in Japan received a similar packet containing two white, washable face-masks.

In Tokyo, mask-wearing is part of daily life. © Masayuki Kozono
The other day a present from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slid into my mailbox. I was not the only recipient. Every household in Japan received a similar packet containing two white, washable face-masks.