Japanese sailors equipped with gas masks?

At 9 seconds into this video, you can see a sailor wearing what looks to me like an air scrubber on his back connected to a hose. Of the three prominent men in the frame, look at the guy on the left. I can only think of two things, 1. it is a gas mask and scrubber used in chemical weapon attacks, or 2. since a firefight is occurring, could it be something to wear in a fire?

If it is for chemical weapon protection, what Allied forces were thought, by the Japanese, to use such weapons, and at sea, no less?

Thx

 

Used in responding to emergency situations on the ship. Lots of nasty substances like fuel, oil, etc which can make a mess when the ship takes damage well as the usual fire-related hazards of smoke, CO.

 

Thank you all, for your replies.
Did this happen on board USN ships?

 

Gas masks are somewhat useful in getting from Point A to safer Point B through smoke-filled compartments.

However...
- Smoke will quickly clog the filter.
- Is useless if their is little or no oxygen in the room.
- Useless against most of the toxic gases produced by the fire. Note - a secondary filter to protect against Carbon Monoxide(CO) was included with later Japanese Navy gas masks.(not sure about earlier ones.)

Opana's OBA is quite different from earlier gas masks, in that it had it's own oxygen supply. This negated the hazards of a standard gas mask, still, the oxygen supply limited, IIRC, 10-15 minutes depending.

 

FWIW, I would also add that this is a movie...

The film clearly shows P-47Ds or Ns(eliptical wing & bubble canopy) attacking the Yamato...Cannon armed P-47s nonetheless.

I always thought Otoko-tachi no Yamato had amazing sets, but skimped on the CGI.