Hi didn't mean to confuse you on the tea kettle - it is a tea kettle, you pop it on and it starts steaming right away. You can usually find instant coffee in the room to make with it and lots of tea.

The new Cathay seats are fully flat. Not sure if that will be on your flight. AA is not fully flat, but has a good amount of recline and a nice foot rest that comes up. Think more of a cradle seat. JAL is a full flat seat. So if there is anyway you can upgrade that LAX-NRT flight to First, it would be better, but certainly not unbearable.

I would take the masks with you - if you need it and are comfortable with using it, you can use it. I've used it (I'm asthmatic) in factories and don't care - they think I look weird because I'm an American anyway

If I was touring around, I would be less apt to, unless it got really bad, and then you have it. There's been areas I see people using, and others not. Do what you are comfortable with.