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business suit that it says can reduce the risk of catching the virus.
The wool suit is coated with titanium dioxide, which breaks down
the virus molecules on contact under ultraviolet light, Haruyama
Trading Co. said. The material, which can also reduce odours such
as cigarette smoke, will keep its anti-virus properties even after
being dry cleaned more than 20 times, the company said. It will go
on sale at 272 stores across Japan on Saturday, with a price tag of
52,290 yen (589 dollars), following its launch in Tokyo on Thursday,
said company spokesman Ryugo Yamamoto. The company had initially
aimed to develop a dirt- and odour-resistant suit, 'but laboratory
experiments proved that molecules of viruses were actually dissolved
three hours after they adhered to the fabric,' he said. Japanese
people are known for being extremely hygiene-conscious, with
thousands of people on the street wearing masks when the first
Japanese victims tested positive for swine flu in May. Students
and even adult workers are instructed how to effectively wash their
hands and gargle, while antibacterial goods ranging from men's socks
to a computer mouse are also popular.
