Readjusting to masked faces

I have to say, one of the most refreshing things about living in Ireland for the last 5 months, was seeing people's faces daily. It is a big re-adjustment to come back to Japan and see more faces with masks than people without masks. I think being able to see people's whole faces, particularly their smile, is an important part of non verbal communication. There is something very detached about a whole community wearing masks. 

The use of masks was something I found quite strange when I first came to Japan. But, I don't think at that time, 2000, as many people wore masks as they do now. Today as I looked around the shopping mall, the number of people wearing masks far exceeded the number of people without them. There were so few people without masks, that I could count them on two hands. The people without masks stood out more. This is the exact reverse of my home country.

I do wear a mask occasionally myself in Japan, but only when necessary. For example, if I think I am coming down with something or if my hay fever is particularly bad. I never wear them in Ireland though, because there just isn't the same societal pressure to wear one, even if you are sick. Its not frowned upon as such, but people think you are strange for wearing one, even if it means that your hay fever will be slightly less bothersome! I do appreciate there are various good reasons to wearing masks and understand why people wear them here. But I personally prefer an unmasked society! 

Is it just me? How do you feel about mask wearing?