Mask Culture

Japanese people love their surgical masks and you see them wearing them all the time. I cant but help find it a little antisocial and intrusive. I understand if someone is concerned about their health, but I know some people who wear theirs all the time. I see people wearing them in their cars driving home. It doesn't seem to be just about preventing colds or population, but also a metaphorical mask. Japanese people can sometimes be very shy and I guess hiding behind a 'mask' gives them a little security. Although, maybe Im wrong and they just paranoid about germs.