Why are Japanese people so afraid of catching a cold?

Question:

It might be a bad source to base this question off of, but in any anime I've seen Japanese people are always super scared of colds. They treat it like a really big deal, making it seem like the person could die. In America from what I gather when someone catches a cold it's no big deal at all, nobody worries much, and it's assumed you'll be fine quite soon.

I read some stuff about why you could be more susceptible to catching a cold in Japan, but couldn't find anything about why they take them so much more seriously and worry so much more about them. Again, it could just be extra drama for an anime and not reflect real life as much, but I'm not sure.

Thanks

Answer:

Japan is a very hygienic country. People wear masks if they are sick.

Even in America I think it is nasty if someone sneezes or coughs without covering their face or even washing their hands. Japanese generally have a slightly higher standard when it comes to that type of stuff.

You catch a cold = sick, sick means you miss work or school which means you fall behind.

Common sense that make the Japanese school and work ethic stronger then what you find in America, which unfortunately lags behind.