It?s hay fever season in Japan again.

Does this concern you"

If you?re a tourist, yeah, maybe.

If you?ve lived in Japan for a few years and think you?re safe, don’t be too sure!
 
Be Aware of the Pollen! Always!!
These pollen causing hay fever are unique to Japan.

So, even if you’ve never had any allergies before, you suddenly might have symptoms in Japan as a first-time visitor.
In my case, I?ve never had allergies.

While most of my family members and friends suffered from hay fever in Germany or had animal hair allergies, I never had to deal with that.

After moving to Japan I soon noticed that a lot of my students had red, teary eyes and a runny nose in spring.
About 4 years after I had moved to Japan, I thought I had caught a cold.
I went to the doctor and had my blood checked.

I was told I had hay fever (kafunshou, ???). I had become allergic to “sugi” (?), Japanese cedar tree – or more precisely Cryptomeria japonica – pollen.
Exactly in that year (2012), there were more pollen than usually.

I got medicine and only dared to go outside while wearing a surgical mask.
While spring used to be my favorite season in Japan, I could only enjoy cherry blossoms with teary, red eyes from then on.
 
Why So Many People Suffer From Hay Fever in Japan
Most people in Japan are either allergic to “sugi” (?, Japanese cedar) or “hinoki” (?, Japanese cypress).

Both are native Japanese tree species.

There ...