Face masks, sanitizers trend as hometown tax gifts amid virus woes

As supplies of face masks and sanitizers are running short amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, some Japanese municipalities have begun to offer such items as gift incentives for "hometown tax" donations rather than local products like meat or fish.The government of Sennan City in Osaka Prefecture initially offered hand-made gauze masks as one such gift to attract tax-deductible donations, but suspended the item due to a surge in orders. Since adding a mask made of towel textiles earlier this month, the city has drawn more than 700 donations in about two weeks.The mask, produced by local to…READ FULL ARTICLE