Firms inventing high-quality masks to battle virus

Medium-sized firms in a range of industries across Japan are marshaling their technologies and know-how to produce high-quality, washable masks to meet soaring demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.Apparel company Lifestyle Accent Inc. in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has launched masks using fiber materials from "washi," or traditional Japanese paper. It says this kind of material helps masks feel less stuffy and that they can be washed just like clothing items such as T-shirts.The triple-layered mask has a filter in the middle made wholly of washi, while the material that touche…READ FULL ARTICLE