The Great Chinese Rush for a dear Japanese mask

Shigematsu is all the rage among the smog-hit northern Chinese

A face mask made by the Japanese company Shigematsu Works Co Ltd has been running out of stock on its online outlets, as many Chinese rush to protect themselves from the smog that has shrouded large swathes of northern China during the entire winter.

Shigematsu, a Tokyo-based manufacturer of personal protective equipment including respirators and face shields, saw surging demand for its face masks online since the end of 2016.