JAPAN | Thursday, 4 July 2013 | Views [328] | View Larger Image
It used to be one of the most polluted lakes in Japan, but has since been cleaned by a sophisticated system, the name of which lies in the kanji (Chinese characters) behind the lady’s head. She is walking her dog, rugged up in an insulated jacket typical of those worn by the Japanese in winter, and is wearing a facemask. This is worn either as a courtesy to others when sick, or as a preventative measure of avoiding catching illnesses, particularly in the winter months.