盛夏臨近 日本多家企業推出夏季清涼口罩

夏日炎炎，口罩還能戴得住嗎？如何在戴口罩的同時確保通風透氣？日本多家企業推出令人感覺涼快、透氣的清涼口罩，抵禦新冠病毒的傳播，還可以吸熱吸汗防中暑。

Several companies in different fields are hurrying to develop cool and dry face masks to help people in the upcoming sweltering summer heat in Japan as they continue to wear masks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

日本不同行業的幾家公司都在加緊研發涼爽乾燥的口罩，以幫助人們應對即將到來的酷暑。爲防止新冠病毒的傳播，日本民衆將繼續佩戴口罩。

sweltering [ˈsweltərɪŋ]：adj.悶熱的；熱得難受的

Demand for masks suitable for summer use is increasing in Japan and other parts of the world, with medical experts warning against risks such as breathing difficulties and dehydration when people wear masks in the hot and humid season.

在日本和世界其他地區，適合夏天使用的口罩需求正在增加。醫學專家警告人們在溼熱的季節戴口罩會帶來呼吸困難和脫水等風險。

Companies from different industries that have never produced masks before are coming up with solutions, with their own expertise ranging from high-tech cool materials to interesting ideas like putting refrigerant packs inside masks.

以前從未生產過口罩的不同行業的公司都在拿出解決方案。它們憑藉自己的專業技能，推出了高科技降溫材料口罩以及可加入製冷劑的口罩等有趣產品。

Mizuno Corp in late May started sales of face masks made with a soft stretch tricot material that is used for its swimsuits and wear for track and field athletics.

美津濃公司在5月底開始銷售用柔軟可拉伸的經編針織材料製成的口罩，這種材料用於製作泳裝和田徑運動服裝。

By using the material, the repeatedly washable mask can fit the face with less stress and help prevent splash infections, the sportswear maker said.

這家運動服飾生產商表示，通過使用經編針織材料，這種可反覆清洗的口罩可以更輕巧地貼合面部，並有助於防止飛濺感染。

The product -- which costs 935 yen including tax -- gained strong popularity, with 20,000 pieces sold on its first online sales day.

這款口罩售價爲含稅935日元（約合人民幣60元），網售當天就售出2萬隻，大受歡迎。

Yonex Co, a maker of equipment for badminton, tennis and other sports, will sell masks made with its "Very Cool" material containing xylitol from early July.

生產羽毛球、網球和其他運動器材的尤尼克斯公司將從7月初開始銷售用含有木糖醇的“非常涼”材料製成的口罩。

Xylitol absorbs heat, responding to sweat, and the material is used for Yonex's wear for the Japan badminton national team, as well as professional tennis players.

木糖醇能吸熱、吸汗，尤尼克斯公司使用這種材料爲日本羽毛球國家隊和職業網球運動員生產服裝。

"As people spend more time wearing masks against the coronavirus, we hope our technology will enable users to keep cool during hot weather, even if only a little bit," a Yonex spokeswoman told Kyodo News.

該公司的一位發言人告訴日本共同社：“隨着人們戴口罩抵禦新冠病毒的時間越來越長，我們希望我們的技術能讓使用者在炎熱的天氣中保持涼爽，哪怕只有一點點。”

The company plans to sell the mask at 840 yen before tax. The length of the string of the quick-drying and antimicrobial mask can be adjusted.

這款口罩預計稅前價格爲每隻840日元（約合人民幣54元）。這款速幹抗菌口罩的繩帶可以調節長短。

Fast Retailing Co, operator of the Uniqlo chain, plans to start selling face masks this summer featuring a highly breathable and fast-drying material used for its popular AIRism underwear products that are cool and dry quickly.

優衣庫連鎖店的運營商迅銷公司計劃今年夏天開始銷售由超透氣、速乾材料製成的口罩，這種材料用於其廣受歡迎的AIRism內衣，涼爽又速幹。

A Fast Retailing spokeswoman said the date of the debut of the mask and its price will be announced once they are determined.

迅銷公司的一位發言人表示，口罩的上市日期和價格將在確定後公佈。

Chairman and CEO Tadashi Yanai earlier denied the firm would enter the mask market, saying it will focus on its main business of making clothing. But it has decided to take advantage of the growing customer demand for masks.

迅銷公司董事長兼首席執行官柳井正早些時候否認該公司將進軍口罩市場，稱公司將專注於主營的製衣業務。但該公司已決定利用客戶對口罩日益增長的需求生產產品。

Various other companies are actively entering the summer mask market after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fully lifted a state of emergency over the pneumonia-causing virus on May 25.

5月25日，日本首相安倍晉三全面解除了因新冠病毒引發的緊急狀態後，其他多家公司也在積極進軍夏季口罩市場。

Abe declared the emergency in April, urging citizens to stay at home and businesses to suspend or shorten opening hours in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading.

安倍晉三今年4月宣佈日本進入緊急狀態，敦促市民呆在家裏，企業暫停營業或縮短營業時間，以防止病毒傳播。

While economic and social activities have gradually resumed, the government is calling on people to continue wearing face masks against a possible second wave of a virus outbreak.

雖然經濟和社會活動已逐漸恢復，但政府呼籲人們繼續戴口罩，以應對可能出現的第二波病毒暴發。

The request has raised concerns about the use of masks in hot weather, partly because the number of people who die or are taken to hospitals due to heat-related conditions has increased in Japan in recent years.

這一要求引發了人們對在炎熱天氣佩戴口罩的擔憂，部分原因是近年來日本因高溫導致的死亡或就醫的人數有所增加。

The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, a major medical group with over 10,000 members, has called on people to drink water at regular intervals and remove face masks as appropriate, as wearing them could increase both heart and breathing rates.

擁有一萬多名成員的大型醫療機構日本急症醫學協會呼籲人們定期喝水，並酌情摘掉口罩，因爲戴口罩可能會提高心率和呼吸頻率。

Knit Waizu, a knitwear maker based in Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, has put on sale cloth masks equipped with ice packs.

位於日本東北部山形縣的針織品製造商Knit Waizu推出了配有製冷劑的布制口罩。

The mask has two pockets to hold four refrigerant packs and can cool the user's face for one to two hours.

這種口罩有兩個小兜，可以放入四包製冷劑，在1至2小時內令佩戴者面部涼爽。

The company earlier this year sold cloth masks that are cooled and sold in vending machines, but their coolness did not last for a long time. As a result, Knit Waizu launched a reformed version of the mask.

今年早些時候，該公司通過自動售貨機出售提前製冷的布口罩，但降溫效果持續時間不長。因此，Knit Waizu推出了這款改良版口罩。

"It's a mask that has never been seen before," said Knit Waizu executive Katsuyuki Goto. "Although it's not perfect, I hope people will use it as a measure against the heat."

“這是一種新式口罩，”Knit Waizu的總裁後藤勝之說。“儘管它並不完美，但我希望人們能用它來抵禦高溫。”

The new mask sells for 1,300 yen, including tax, in vending machines and online sales are also available. The mask can be used repeatedly if cooled in a freezer.

這款新口罩每隻稅後價格1300日元（約合人民幣84元），在自動售貨機和網上有售。放入冰箱冷卻後可反覆使用。