Many Chinese are rushing to stores in hopes of finding and purchasing a Japanese face mask. It's not for vanity, as the mask can be used as a protective article of clothing against the smog that often covers northern China during wintertime.
Made by Shigematsu Works Co Ltd, the face mask is so demand that stocks are quickly sold in online stores, according to a report by China Daily. In fact, sales of the Shigematsu protective mask rose as 2016 came to a close.
But what made it so popular in the first place?
It was a blog post that shot the Shigematsu mask to fame. The blog article compared different types of pollution protection masks often used by Chinese customers. Based on the tests, Shigematsu emerged as the victor. Its comfortable fit and efficiency were particularly noted, the China Daily report said.
High Demand, Low Supply for Face Masks
Enterprising individuals have taken advantage of the shortage by selling Shigematsu masks on Taobao with high mark-ups. For example, a single mask can sell for 8,888 yuan or roughly $1,290.
"The price is high but no one forces anyone to buy it. The market has the say," said the online seller.
Other Japanese-made protective masks, such as those from Kowa, Hakugen, Pitta, and Iris have also seen an increase in sales for the past months. Experts, however, dispute these masks' effectiveness against smog.
According to China Daily, most of the masks available for sale are surgical-type masks that have little to no effect against miniscule airborne smog particles. Such masks are only effective against pollen allergies.
This is a sentiment echoed by Benjamin Cowling, a public health expert and associate professor at the University of Hong Kong.
Effective or not, the Chinese public are still keen on these masks.
As of date, Shigematsu's official website has yet to release an announcement as to when the next batch of protective masks will be really for sale.