It is too early to know whether what Japan has done is enough and whether it will be effective long term.
That said, It isn't just people wearing mask, or something innately Japanese. At the beginning of last year they had a serious flu outbeak[1]. This years flu cases saw a major reduction when measures to combat COVID-19 came into effect[2].
I have noticed a lot of little things that have come into effect as a response to covid-19.
* Medical clinics put signs up saying don't come in if you have flu like symptoms, phone and keep yourself isolated. That allows them to keep the vast majority of people with mild colds and flu separated from those with possible COVID-9.
* Stopping schools reduced the numbers of people on public transport.
* Putting pressure on companies to allow people to work from home.
* The supermarket bakery started wrapping all bread and pastries before putting them out, previously you would place what you wanted in a tray and they would wrap it.
That said, It isn't just people wearing mask, or something innately Japanese. At the beginning of last year they had a serious flu outbeak[1]. This years flu cases saw a major reduction when measures to combat COVID-19 came into effect[2].
I have noticed a lot of little things that have come into effect as a response to covid-19.
* Medical clinics put signs up saying don't come in if you have flu like symptoms, phone and keep yourself isolated. That allows them to keep the vast majority of people with mild colds and flu separated from those with possible COVID-9.
* Stopping schools reduced the numbers of people on public transport.
* Putting pressure on companies to allow people to work from home.
* The supermarket bakery started wrapping all bread and pastries before putting them out, previously you would place what you wanted in a tray and they would wrap it.
1. https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00386/japan-gripped-by... 2. https://twitter.com/adtimmering/status/1240900101687480320?s...