Abenomask

April 18, 2021

Looking back a year ago, as Covid infection spread over the world, surgical masks disappeared from shelves of drug stores.
Japanese government lead by prime minister at that time, Mr. Abe, decided to deliver 2 plies of masks to each home. They were ironically called abenomask, punned on his economic policy, abenomics.

While people made line at drug stores to purchase masks, one famous manufacture of electric appliances, Sharp, has started to supply masks. Sharp used to be dominating Japanese market by LED TV sets, was acquired by Taiwanese EMS giant, Foxconn. They insist their mask was safe and high quality with Japanese standard made at a clean room. They are selling the masks on-line only, chances were very small when demands were much larger than their manufacturing capability. After applying the masks, only who received email from the company obtained rights to purchase them.

Now one year has passed since the chaotic situation, as the overall mask supply surpass its demand, Sharp masks got much easier to buy. Long waited email was also sent to me, when I already had plenty of masks including a box of Sharp ones, at home. Since then, we still receive the emails from time to time.

We may have to keep wearing masks under COVID life style, the Sharp may continue supplying their masks, which may or may not profitable to the company.

The memorial gift from the government, abenomask, by the way, are stored in drawers at home as they are too precious to use.