Forum - View topicAnswerman - Why Do Japanese Kids Carry Handkerchiefs?
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ReifuTD
Posts: 171 |
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Maybe it a US thing I always been told like in health class that people that use handkerchiefs to blow their noses are gross gem covered that I should avoid of I don't want to get sick. Use a tissue and throw the gems away.
Although I have to admit using/keeping a handkerchief to dry your handed and swipe sweat seems way more sanitary and practical then using it for snot. I mean once you blow your nose in it can't/shouldn't use it for anything else other then blowing your nose making it useless for drying you hands and stuff.
How much water can stick to a hand? I'd think it's would dry it's self in a hour or so. |
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BethanyP
Posts: 26 |
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I still use a handkerchief for nose-blowing, in defiance of the usual sneering. Yes, it's less hygienic than a tissue, but during the height of hayfever season I couldn't possibly carry enough tissues around to tidy up my face, the amount of times I sneeze. It's either sneeze repeatedly into the same cloth or carry a bulging pocketful of soggy paper, and I'm not enduring the latter for the sake of someone else's sense of decorum
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tcdelaney
Posts: 169 Location: Mittagong, NSW, Australia |
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I've always carried at least 2 hankies, one in each front pants pocket. I get anxious if I don't have them available, as I was taught never to sniff ...
If I've got a cold or the flu I'll have about 8 hankies with me (I don't get hay fever, but I respond particularly badly to head and worst of all chest colds). I don't use tissues for 2 reasons: 1. If I have to use one, I have to then dispose of it immediately or walk around with soggy paper that I might forget to take out before washing my clothes; 2. If I've got a cold (and so have to wipe or blow my nose a lot) then the roughness of paper rips up the skin on and around my nose. Good silk hankies take longer to do that. |
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zrnzle500
 Posts: 3767 |
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I don't believe I have ever used a handkerchief, for hand drying or nose blowing. If I ever visit, I may need to invest in one of them. Though as someone who deals with allergies regularly throughout the year, I've carried my share of used tissues or had to go without, so perhaps it would be good to do it anyways.
It would be terrible to find out there isn't any toilet paper in the bathroom after you had already done your business  . Duly noted.
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AJ (LordNikon)
 Posts: 504 Location: Kyoto |
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The air blowers are so unsanitary, I'd take my chance with my pants, or even a strangers pants. No joke, I've seen a guy walk out of a rest room in Ueno, and wipe his wet hands on the back of some kids hoodie. Ironically, between the bathroom and the vic, there were at least a half dozen people giving away free tissue packs. |
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Alan45
 Village Elder Posts: 9883 Location: Virginia |
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What I want to know is just where school girls keep the handkerchiefs, tissues or anything else they produce at the drop of a hat. In most cases while in school they are obviously not carrying a bag of any sort.
On second thought, perhaps it would be better to not know. |
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FireChick
Subscriber Posts: 2424 Location: United States |
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I always did wonder about this. Now my question has finally been answered. Hallelujah!
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EricJ2
 Posts: 4016 |
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Yeah, my other Japanese-stereotype image from anime was "Don't they have promotional people passing out tissue packets on every street corner?" (With them knee-deep in so much tissue about, seems that handkerchiefs would have fallen out of fashion...) |
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Kyjin
 Posts: 126 Location: Los Angeles |
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This is one of those habits I picked up the first time I lived in Japan and continued back in the states. I have four or so that I switch out in my bag when They get dirty. You can find them at 100 yen shops, but yes, some are around 1000 yen or so, especially anime ones. (Personally I have two Haikyuu and one CCS ones.) While some bathrooms have dryers (at least in Tokyo), I rarely see paper towels. Train stations, dept stores, and schools are the most common without. As for the lack of toilet paper, I've only experienced that once, in Kyoto, but I always carry a tissue pack regardless.
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Sakagami Tomoyo
 Posts: 941 Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia |
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I think a previous Answerman might have covered that. I believe the gist is that while it's advanced in terms of better quality ways to watch television, listen to music, take photos, etc society as a whole is generally more resistant to changing the way things are done on a fundamental level. No-one wants to spend money installing hand dryers or paper towels when everyone's carrying hankies and tissues anyway, and so forth.
Pockets are a thing. |
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Alan45
Village Elder Posts: 9883 Location: Virginia |
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Sakagami Tomoyo wrote:
In skirts that short? That doesn't seem likely. |
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SaneSavantElla
 Posts: 234 |
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My reaction when I saw the question in the feed : "Huh? What's odd about carrying handkerchiefs? Everybody needs them!" Column made me realize that tissues and paper towels are a thing...
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Sakagami Tomoyo
Posts: 941 Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia |
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More likely than you think. |
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Afezeria
 Posts: 817 Location: Malaysia, Kuantan. |
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This might as well be a question that showcased huge cultural differences. People in my country carries handkerchief for most of the time when they are outside, either man or woman (though girls are more likely to brought one with them), according to my observation any way. Tissues are used as well since it's easy to dispose of (throw it off the sidewalk and voila), but handkerchiefs are generally used more often due to multi purposes. It can be used to wipe dust away, and can actually bore more ammunition
 (used several times before being dirty entirely.) Anyway, honestly at first, I felt that the question was rather silly but I read the answer/comments and was explained.
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Joe Carpenter
 Posts: 503 |
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JList? I wonder what they were most commonly used to cleanup.... 
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