Soap? Who needs it? Just gargle!

The flu is going around at my school, so I was told this morning by the English department head to gargle often. As you can imagine, my face must have expressed my amusement and confusion, so in response she proceeded to tilt her head back and make gargling noises.

Turns out, the Japanese believe that gargling is just as important as hand washing for the prevention of illness. (Because that makes sense, right?) It's an Eastern medicine thing.

At least now I understand why my coworkers are constantly gargling loudly in the English office between classes. I thought they were all just really concerned with preventing stank-mouth.