As the public use of surgical masks becomes widespread in Japan, people have started using them as fashion items, to enhance their beauty, to hide ungroomed faces and conceal identities. Now an increasing number of youngsters are becoming dependent on wearing these masks to cope with the anxiety they feel when interacting with people. While initially comforting, mask dependency further alienates them from society and worsens their mental problems. Will they ever be able to take off the mask?
