Written by Tori Floyd. This story originally appeared on Yahoo News Canada.
People have grown very accustomed to seeing masks over the last year, however chances are you haven't seen any quite like those made by Shuhei Okawara.
While is unique creations won't protect the wearer against the coronavirus, the hyper-realistic masks sold at Kamenya Omote, his store in Japan, make a dramatic statement for other uses.
The masks are created using 3D printing technology, and are created using the faces of real people. Volunteers are paid 40,000 Yen (about $491 CAD) for the use of their likeness. The first round of faces were limited to residents of Tokyo only, but in the future, more faces from further away will be included.
In November, Mashable reported that pre-orders for the masks were already selling out. On sale for the first time this week, the masks retail for 98,000 Yen (about $1,200 CAD).
The face "donors" aren't identified.
“Mask shops in Venice probably do not buy or sell faces. But that is something that’s likely to happen in fantasy stories,” Okawara told Reuters.
Shuhei Okawara’s masks won’t protect you or others against the virus. But they will lend you the exact appearance of an unidentified Japanese adult whose features have been printed onto them 2/5 pic.twitter.com/ULyYkuw1dL
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They are cheaper to run. They can be simpler to manufacture. And of course, they are far better for the environment, playing a crucial role in hitting our targets to cut carbon emissions.