Recently, Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s “Jogging Etiquette” video has been getting a lot of attention.
I get the impression that more people in Nishinomiya are going outside for “walks” or “jogging” to make up for a lack of exercise.
So that everyone in Nishinomiya can exercise with greater peace of mind and safety, I tried out different kinds of masks to see which ones make it easier to work out.
*The following is my personal opinion as a runner, but I hope it can be helpful.
Regular mask (Rating/△)
《Pros》
Easy to get; the simplest option for walking
《Cons》
Gets much more uncomfortable when you sweat; because it sticks closely to your mouth, breathing gradually becomes harder; since it’s disposable, you need a lot of them (could get expensive?)
Buff (Rating/〇)
《Pros》
Breathable and quick-drying, so it feels comfortable to wear; can be washed and reused many times
《Cons》
It slips down; depending on the season, it can get hot while running; not exactly cheap
Urethane mask (Rating/◎)
《Pros》
There’s just enough space between your mouth and the mask, so your breathing is less likely to get disrupted; can be washed in a laundry net and reused about 10 times; drastically reduces discomfort from sweat; good value for money
《Cons》
For hygiene and structural reasons, it can’t be reused as many times as a buff
Amiko’s mask (Rating/?)
《Pros》
Cute
《Cons》
Effectiveness unknown
After trying several options, I’m using a urethane mask!
By the way, this one was 550 yen for a pack of two, tax included.
In addition to its function, I bought it thinking, “Compared with disposable masks, this is kinder to both the environment and my wallet!”
It was made by people at a cutting machine factory in Kobe’s Shin-Nagata area, who said they wanted to “put their skills to good use” by cutting and producing them from materials used to make shoes. No wonder it was so breathable: it was made from material for shoes.
Here’s where I bought mine↓
株式会社 東 商店
*It seems they come in two colors, black and beige, and in M and L sizes.
Phone number 078-651-8008
Address 6-3-30 Higashishiriike-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe
I’m currently looking for mountain paths and other routes with few people as places to get some exercise.
I’m also trying to choose times like early morning or just before it gets dark in the evening.
By the way, this is the observation area at Kanno-ji Temple on Mt. Kabuto.
In Closing
It seems that flyers like this are being distributed around the Imperial Palace.
I hope this kind of etiquette spreads even a little among people running in Nishinomiya, too.
Each person’s effort becomes strength. Let’s all work together as Nishinomiya residents and get through this difficult time.
