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There's a lot of care about not disturbing other people in Japanese culture.

A few additional reasons, for wearing a mask, not in the article:

- Forgot or didn't have time to put makeup on

- Kafunsho (hay fever) protection

- Odor protection, there's also scented masks

- Hiding braces

>There's a lot of care about not disturbing other people in Japanese culture.

Not in Tokyo.

Their actual efficacy is questionable at best though. After about 10 minutes of breathing, water vapor from your own breathing would have rendered it more or less permeable to anything infectious. Sneezing into a handkerchief would probably be more effective.

Efficiency is another question, it may be more of a "it's the thought that counts".

If it catches your spit when you pronounce sounds like "p" and "t", and catches your sneeze particles, it's likely to be pretty helpful.

True. Also, in this season against pollen, especially from cedar which is all around.