Those long forgotten pieces of cloth used in delicate and rather fancy situations like tea time on that old estate out on the moors of England. Or maybe not quite that. But never the less, not an article forgotten by Japan.
Yes, Japan too used handkerchiefs. They are rather fond of them actually. But this is not just past, but also present. I think that most people might have a handkerchief for every day of the week or more. They have of course been using it for less dainty activities, such as dabbing or straight up wiping the sweat off their faces in the summer time. It is of course used by damsels in distress. It is a common concept in their dramas for a guy to spare a girl in need a handkerchief. Then of course she must wash it and give it back, giving her a chance to see him again and he just happens to be her crush and then complications and then omg love. But that is all of them right?
Almost never are these little beasts, the handkerchiefs ever used for their suspected purpose of blowing noses. I cannot tell you why, only that it is considered gross and kind of rude. But the rude part probably stems from the fact that it is just rude to blow your nose in public and you are just expected to suffer the sniffles until you can politely excuse yourself to the toilet or some other private room where upon you can blow your nose. Perhaps blowing your nose into a handkerchief is seen as disgusting not only because you are blowing your nose in public, but also that handkerchief is perceived as being used for other purposes; therefore the thought of your wiping your snot all over your sweaty body is just nasty.
However the most common and annoying usage for these little buggers is so that everywhere has an excuse to skimp on hand towels to dry your hands and not have hand dryers in bathrooms. This is just way too common a theme for all over Japan. I mean I never remember to bring mine! And before you say 'Oh keep it in your purse/ pocket', that logic will work for malls and stations and such, but at my work not so much. Also pocket? come on I am a girl, if you can fit a hand towel or pretty much anything bigger than a tube of chapstick in your pocket you might be looked at a little weird, also an honorable mention for skirts and dresses which have none. But back to purses, it would be weird to carry my purse all around work and into the the restroom, or if I just carried it into the restroom probably every teacher would assume I had a scenario like last week.... Besides, then it would mean I would have to remember my purse as well and let's face it, I have a hard enough time remembering the little piece of cloth. Keep in mind that I have been calling them little pieces of cloth, but they really can't be compared to the handkerchiefs of days passed. These are more like little towels in the size and shape of handkerchiefs, but can clearly absorb quite a bit more water and have that same, but to a much smaller caliber, towel like material on one or both sides and will often feature some kind of print on the side opposite the towel, those occasionally both, sometimes they are embroidered or patterned. Japan has really just taken this idea and ran in every direction with it.
The idea is pretty great, until you kind of soak it and are carrying around what is effectively a damp tissue the rest of the day. Can you imagine carrying an oversized wet tissue in your bag? And then you casually just reach into it to grab your phone and your fingers just happen to brush it. And you have that momentary pause. That mind cringe. Who knows what bacteria could be growing in this bountiful environment. A nice moist, dark space, in the bottom of your bag where all kinds of things go. And not just that, but that very cloth comes in frequent contact with your hands! And your hands, they shake other people, they touch all kinds of things, they are the most common contributor to what later develops as a cold or the flu. But relief! You find your phone. But your relief is short lived. Is it just you, or does your phone case seem slightly damp. You don't really want to put it up to your ear now when you answer it. It is just like delivering those little happiness-devouring bacteria right to the source. Well you get the idea. I am no germ-o-phobe (mysophobic), and I honestly think that the handkerchiefs are a pretty good idea in these kinds of situations (the bathroom ones, not the bacteria fedex), but I also think that in this day and age, and the fact that the majority of the world does not use handkerchiefs for this express purpose, that Japan could benefit in investing in some more hand drying mechanisms. Also that the rest of the world should carry a little towel/handkerchief just in case they ever find their-selves in this kind of situation.
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