Tokyo pop-up mask store lures shoppers with festive face coverings
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As a new wave of coronavirus infections sweeps Tokyo, a pop-up store near Japan’s capital is luring Christmas shoppers with 250 types of face mask, including festive versions with decorative lights.
Tokyo Mask Land, which opened Tuesday for a month in an office building in Yokohama, also has a mask bar and is offering mask-making workshops to draw visitors.
People often wore face mask in Japan before the pandemic, particularly during the winter flu season and in Spring when cedar and cypress pollen triggers hay fever.
Although no law mandates wearing them, it is currently unusual to see someone without a mask in Tokyo, even outside.
The store also plans an exhibit on the history of face coverings and a photo booth featuring Christmas trees and a mannequin dressed up as Santa Claus.
“I don’t think you would come up with an idea like this if there had been no coronavirus outbreak,” 23-year-old Ryota Nabetani, who was shopping for masks with his mother, said of the photo spot.
Although it has had far fewer cases than in the United States and Europe, a recent surge in coronavirus infections prompted authorities in Tokyo last week to request bars and restaurants to shorten opening hours.
Japan’s capital on Tuesday reported 372 new cases, the seventh straight day above 300, according to public broadcaster NHK.
A spokesman for the store said it had implemented measures to ensure that visitors didn’t catch the coronavirus while shopping for masks.
Questions & Answers
Q.When did Tokyo Mask Land open and where is it located?
When did Tokyo Mask Land open and where is it located?
The Tokyo Mask Land store opened on Tuesday for a month, situated in an office building in Yokohama, near Japan's capital. It aims to attract Christmas shoppers with its wide range of face coverings.
Q.What types of products and activities does the pop-up store offer visitors?
What types of products and activities does the pop-up store offer visitors?
The store offers 250 types of face mask, including festive versions with decorative lights. It also features a mask bar, mask-making workshops, an exhibit on the history of face coverings, and a Christmas-themed photo booth.
Q.Have any specific measures been taken at the store to protect visitors from the virus?
Have any specific measures been taken at the store to protect visitors from the virus?
Yes, a spokesman for the store confirmed that measures have been implemented to ensure visitors do not catch the coronavirus while shopping. The article does not specify what these measures are.
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