[veemjeem]

Culturally the Japanese are more respectful. When one wears a mask, one is trying to be respectful to others. That would never fly here in the USA where people care more about their personal freedoms. Americans don't like to be told what to do.

[StavrosK]

That's what impressed me as well about the mask-wearing custom, and I really hope it catches on everywhere now. Over here (Greece) people wear masks to protect themselves (even though they aren't for that), hopefully some will realize that they need to wear masks to protect others.