Photo/Illutration Cloth face masks which started to be delivered to households in Tokyo on April 17 (Yuji Masuyama)

Two suppliers of face masks that the government pledged to mail to every household in Japan to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus announced April 23 they will recall all undelivered protective gear following complaints of defects.

Suppliers Kowa Co. and Itochu Corp. said they are strengthening their check systems even though the central government tried to deliver two washable cloth masks to each household as early as possible.

The program announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will cost 46.6 billion yen ($433 million). Deliveries began in Tokyo, which is facing the brunt of the health scare, on April 17. However, some masks were found to be defective, so the health ministry asked suppliers to check them more thoroughly.

Three suppliers were asked to supply the cloth masks. Kowa received the largest order valued at 5.48 billion yen, followed by Itochu with 2.85 billion yen in contracted merchandise.

“We consider this a serious issue, so we are recalling all our products, checking them again and strengthening the check system,” a Kowa official said.

At Itochu, an official said, “We will adopt a triple-check system for all our products.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga acknowledged at an April 24 news conference that the distribution of face masks in some areas will be delayed.

However, he vowed to ensure that deliveries will begin in all areas as soon as possible.