The Mask of Love

[Russell]

Face saver: Surgical masks worn at speed dating sessions

Looks aren’t everything. At least, that’s what one Japanese dating service is trying to prove - by requiring participants in speed dating sessions to wear white surgical masks.

“In order to achieve marriage, it is important to provide chances to know a partner’s personality and values in the early stages,” said Kei Matsumura, head of Tokyo dating service Def Anniversary. “We chose surgical masks as an essential tool for that.”

White surgical masks covering most of the face are common sights in Japan, where people don them to avoid catching diseases, keep out pollen and, sometimes, just to keep their faces warm. Some women also opt for a mask on days when they haven’t worn makeup.

“Since I wasn’t judged by my appearance, I think I was able to be more outgoing with women,” said 28-year-old Yasumasu Kishi at a weekend speed dating event for 19 men and 18 women.

Dating services are booming in Japan as young people shy from tying the knot. The marriage rate has plunged by 50% over the last 40 years, from 10.1 per thousand in 1975 to 5.1 per thousand in 2014, according to a Health Ministry survey.

Young people brought up in the digital era find face-to-face encounters daunting in ultra-polite Japan, while long work hours add still another hurdle. These make konkatsu - active “marriage seeking activity” - often the only option.

“I think I was able to find out more about their inner selves and not just judge them by their looks,” said Chiharu Tsukahara, a 28-year-old office worker.

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[Grumpy Gramps]

Japanese have abandoned their kimonos for business suits, now they're on their merry way to abanodon the suits and embrace the male and female burqa. Sounds consistent. All good.

[Russell]

Hmm, I predict a decline in the number of Japanese tourists to Austria...

Man dressed up as shark arrested under burka ban law while working as mascot outside Apple re-seller shop

A man dressed as a shark has been arrested under Austria’s burka ban laws while working as a mascot outside a shop.

The employee was standing outside an Apple re-seller called McShark in a shark suit to advertise the opening of the new electronics store in Vienna.

Police officers walking past demanded he remove his shark head, but the man refused, saying he was “just doing his job”.

He was then arrested and handed a fine that could be up to £130.

It comes after new restrictions came into force in Austria at the beginning of the month banning the wearing of the full Islamic veil.

Also prohibited are clown disguises, medical masks and scarves to cover faces, with residents only permitted under certain conditions to wear them in public.

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[matsuki]

Shitty execution/enforcement but...

Also prohibited are clown disguises, medical masks and scarves to cover faces, with residents only permitted under certain conditions to wear them in public.

2+post+about+pokemon+x+i+m+ok+with+this+_be022e43ec52bb1677a2c9baa6206aec[1].jpg

[wagyl]

What? Burqa ban in Austria?

[Taro Toporific]

Shitty execution/enforcement but...

Also prohibited are clown disguises, medical masks and scarves to cover faces, with residents only permitted under certain conditions to wear them in public.

Noooooooo!

+Doctor-WFT-scarf.jpg

Doctor^Who.jpg

[matsuki]

What? Burqa ban in Austria?

I+m+okay+with+90+of+the+on+the+internet+_55d85deaea5a19c29024bd88b0b23325[1].jpg

[matsuki]

Shitty execution/enforcement but...

Also prohibited are clown disguises, medical masks and scarves to cover faces, with residents only permitted under certain conditions to wear them in public.

Noooooooo!

+Doctor-WFT-scarf.jpg

Doctor^Who.jpg

If you're snowboarding or shoveling snow...but would you be walking through downtown Tokyo like that?

[Grumpy Gramps]

The Austrians say that wearing a scarf when it's cold, is fine. Also other weird exceptions apply, like wearing a mask on Halloween is all good. Welders also may wear their helmets etc. The whole law is just a piece of anti-muslim shit.

[matsuki]

The Austrians say that wearing a scarf when it's cold, is fine. Also other weird exceptions apply, like wearing a mask on Halloween is all good. Welders also may wear their helmets etc. The whole law is just a piece of anti-muslim shit.

Law seems overboard but I have no problem with it being probable cause to stop and search someone in public. (within reason so not people wearing scarves, helmets, hijabs, masks on Halloween etc.) Niqabs, Burka, surgical and ski masks...anything that conceals your face like that, fair game.

[Yokohammer]

Krampusnacht is going to be a blast.

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[Mike Oxlong]

It's like the Austrians are still pissed about 1529.

[legion]

The Austrians say that wearing a scarf when it's cold, is fine. Also other weird exceptions apply, like wearing a mask on Halloween is all good. Welders also may wear their helmets etc. The whole law is just a piece of anti-muslim shit.

Anti patriarchal and anti muslim are not one and the same

[Grumpy Gramps]

If you replace the women's dress code made by one group of old men with the dress code made by another group of old men and, of course, without the so affected women having any say in it, 'tis imo not very anti-patriarchal.

[legion]

I think they are installing a lever to give women a way out from an oppressive mentality

Self oppression included