Eye Patches and Injuries

Throughout the months of winter when colds strike leaving people with running noses, many Japanese people resort to wearing masks. In a culture where blowing one's nose is not acceptable behavior, I believe the mask functions to hide one's nose just in case. Despite the prevalence of tissues that are handed out on every major street corner advertising everything from English schools to hostess bars, these tissues are used for dabbing one's nose with or for blowing it in the privacy of the bathroom.

Masks, however, serve an even more vital purpose once spring rolls around. They protect people from painful hay fever allergies. Although not everyone will wear a mask, it is not uncommon to see four or five individuals defending themselves against allergies on one train car. I once saw a young man wearing both a mask and giant headphones which made him look a bit like a spaceman.

In pharmacies, you will not only find hay fever masks, but as I discovered today, all manner of bandages. Last Saturday I got something in my eye, so today I attempted to see the doctor, but after waiting 45 minutes during the lunch break, I spoke to the secretaries only to learn that the clinic only deals with noses, throats, and head problems. Dispiritedly I left, but stopped at the drug store on my way home where I was able to find a giant bottle of eye wash and yes, indeed an eye patch. I'm not sure if I have to guts to wear it out on the street, but if I must, I will feel like I am in one country that will not judge me for it.