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By SHOKO MIFUNE/ Staff Writer

Almost all the people waiting at a traffic light in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward are wearing masks on the morning of May 24. (The Asahi Shimbun)

Despite the government’s eased policy on outdoor face-mask use, most people in Tokyo are still wearing the anti-virus gear, with many citing peer pressure as the reason.

The government on May 20 said the masks are not necessary outdoors among people who maintain a proper social distance. But it recommended their use on trains.

On the morning of May 23, most of the people heading toward JR Akihabara Station in central Tokyo for work or school were wearing masks.

“I feel uncomfortable if I don’t wear a mask,” said an 18-year-old high school student.

He said he will continue wearing a mask outdoors during commuting hours because almost everyone around him is doing so.

“If more people take them off, I may follow suit,” he said.

Kinoroku Ando, an 82-year-old printer who was cycling to work, said wearing masks has become a habit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I take it off, I have to put it away somewhere. I can’t be bothered,” Ando said. “Besides, I wear it when taking the train.”

The government’s announcement on May 20 also said masks are not necessary when people are cycling or jogging.

On the afternoon of May 21, the area around the Imperial Palace was crowded with runners.

A 49-year-old company employee was running without a mask. She said she removes the mask for her jogs but chooses times and places when there are fewer people around.

She also said she sometimes receives unpleasant looks when she isn’t wearing a mask.

“When the number of infection cases settles down, it will be easier to take it off,” she said.

Ryo Hirose, a company employee who was also running without a mask, indicated that he did not care about how others felt.

“I’ve been wanting to take off my mask for a long time,” he said. “Since the government’s official announcement, I can finally take it off openly.”

He also said he questions the point of wearing a mask when he is not having a conversation.

“From now on, I won’t wear a mask when I go out for a short time,” he said.

On the evening of May 20 just after the government’s announcement, all people on four futsal courts in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward were maskless.

On the fifth court, four people in a group of about 20 were wearing masks.

As a reason for wearing a mask, one of the four, Shuhei Susa, a 28-year-old company employee, cited consideration for people who want others to wear masks.

“It is difficult for them to ask unmasked people to wear them,” Susa said.

Mitsuhiko Asakura, a 39-year-old company employee who was maskless, said, “I have not worn a mask when playing futsal because it is hard to breathe.”

But Asakura said that off the court, both indoors and outdoors, he usually wears a mask because he is concerned about what other people may think.

Asked when he will feel comfortable in removing his mask, he said “when the number of people who wear masks and those who don’t is about 50-50.”

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