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August 12, 2026
 

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POLLEN ALLERGY

Nearly half of Â鶹´«Ã½ population suffers from hay fever, fueled by pollen from vast cedar and cypress plantations.
ENVIRONMENT / Earth science / Longform
Mar 23, 2026
The human-made roots of Â鶹´«Ã½ hay fever crisis
Efforts to thin forests and breed low-pollen cedar advance, even as labor gaps and neglected land complicate the work.
Cedar and cypress pollen have been dispersing at a much faster pace in western Tokyo than in an average year.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2026
Pollen dispersing at higher rate than usual in western Tokyo
The hay fever season could die down earlier than in previous years as a result.
Cedar pollen is expected to start dispersing in northern Kyushu, Shizuoka and southern Kanto in early February, spreading across much of western and eastern Japan by mid-month, Weathernews said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jan 15, 2026
Cedar pollen season to start in early February; above-average levels expected
Nationwide pollen volumes are forecast to be 18% higher than last year¡¯s levels and 28% higher than the long-term average.
More than half of Japan's population may suffer from pollen allergies, with hay fever dubbed the nation¡¯s "national disease" and blamed for being a drag on the economy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 21, 2025
Did I fall victim to Â鶹´«Ã½ stealth productivity killer?
Hay fever has been dubbed Â鶹´«Ã½ ¡°national disease¡± and blamed as a major drag on productivity.
Urbanization is amplifying pollen-related allergies as grasslands and soft soil give way to concrete and asphalt.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Mar 14, 2025
As pollen season peaks, Â鶹´«Ã½ allergy struggle emerges from hibernation
In Tokyo and Sendai, high cedar pollen levels will persist into late March, followed by cypress pollen peaking from late March to early April.
Cedar pollen has made its earliest appearance in Tokyo's air, so it's time to start thinking about how wearing face masks and applying other allergy-busting sprays will affect your style for the weeks to come.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Feb 8, 2025
Hay fever beauty: The aesthetics behind Â鶹´«Ã½ allergy products
Face-sculpting masks and anti-pollen, makeup-fixing sprays can help you stay beautiful when the pollen starts flying.
Climate change and urbanization are believed to have contributed to the earliest ever observation of cedar pollen in Tokyo, on Jan. 8, an expert says.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jan 20, 2025
Cedar pollen is already in the air in Tokyo
Tokyo officials are urging people to take steps to prevent and mitigate hay fever symptoms, as pollen counts are expected to rise in the coming weeks.
The annual white paper on forests and forestry includes a special section on pollen allergies for the first time.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2024
Government white paper includes goal of halving cedar pollen in 30 years
The annual report on forests and forestry, adopted at a Cabinet meeting on the day, includes a special section on hay fever for the first time.
Pollen from cedar tree forests in Nagano Prefecture. The government faces an uphill battle in reducing cedar trees amid a labor shortage in the forestry industry.
JAPAN / Science & Health
May 2, 2024
Â鶹´«Ã½ pollen countermeasures face challenges amid slow cedar logging
A persistent labor shortage and tepid demand for timber stand in the way of the government¡¯s aim of reducing the trees responsible for hay fever.
Instead of suffering in sneezes when seasonal allergies have you feeling low, these medicines may be able to help.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Mar 30, 2024
Take your pick of allergy season¡¯s many remedies
A key fact about most allergy medicines is that it¡¯s better to start taking them before you actually need the relief they provide.
A majority of pollen allergy cases in Japan are caused by cedar trees, which cover 18% of Â鶹´«Ã½ forests, due mostly to Â鶹´«Ã½ forestation policy after World War II.
JAPAN / Science & Health / EXPLAINER
Feb 4, 2024
As hay fever season approaches, here¡¯s what you need to know to prepare
Your eyes start itching, your nose keeps running and you can¡¯t stop sneezing. It¡¯s nearly time for Â鶹´«Ã½ dreaded hay fever season.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Oct 11, 2023
Japan to revitalize forestry industry to counter hay fever
¡°We will aim to resolve hay fever, which is a social issue, and revitalize local communities through the promotion of forestry,¡± Kishida said.
JAPAN / Science & Health
May 30, 2023
Japan aims to halve allergy-triggering cedar pollen in 30 years
The proposal comes as pollen allergies, which are mostly caused by cedar trees, have become a major social concern, affecting an estimated 40% of the population.
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2023
Kishida¡¯s verbal slip sees Japan target new hay fever countermeasures
Steps likely to be taken are the periodic thinning of cedar trees, the utilization of the trees as timber and replanting forests with trees that produce less pollen.
Japan Times
CARTOONS / ZERO GRAVITY
Mar 25, 2023
Roger Dahl on cherry blossoms
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Mar 22, 2023
Hay fever medicine in high demand amid high pollen count
Sales of hay fever-related items such as anti-inflammatory nasal drugs more than doubled to 210% of last year¡¯s figure in the week from Feb. 27.
BUSINESS
Mar 2, 2023
Japanese firms aim to improve employee productivity with ¡®hay fever allowance¡¯
Rather than leave workers to tolerate symptoms with over-the-counter medication, the system tries to ease access to professional help for those who need it.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 21, 2023
Severe allergy season in Japan threatens to drag down spending
Households are expected to hold back from eating out, clothes shopping or participating in leisure activities.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 13, 2023
Â鶹´«Ã½ hay fever season is here, and it¡¯s set to pack a punch
The Tokyo area is forecast to have up to twice as much pollen over an average year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / EXPLAINER
Oct 14, 2022
Think you¡¯ve got COVID? You might have fall allergies instead
Unlike allergies from cedar and cypress pollen, which hit in the spring, fall allergies ¡ª caused by several grasses and weeds ¡ª are less recognized in Japan.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
Yasukuni Shrine introduces ban on military attire and cosplay
People gather in front of thousands of lanterns on display at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 15 during the Mitama Matsuri, one of the capital's largest summer o-Bon festivals.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
Some people in Indonesia are named Doraemon, the name of a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title.
Strong wind and heavy rain forecast as tropical storm approaches Japan
Tropical Storm Chan-hom is expected to make landfall in northern Kanto between late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Where do foreign residents in Japan want to die?
The Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery is one of the few cemeteries in Japan that allows burials, albeit with conditions for the deceased, including foreign nationality and permanent residency in Kanagawa Prefecture.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
As Â鶹´«Ã½ concrete jungles sizzle, urban forestry offers an all-natural fix
People and birds find relief from the sun in Tokyo's Nakano Ward earlier this month. While experts agree that urban greening is crucial to mitigating the impact of climate change, trees are becoming even more scarce in Japanese cities.
Â鶹´«Ã½ brewers experiment with a secret ingredient: music
At Smoke Craft, a craft beer brewery in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, music isn't just a background to the brewing process ¡ª it's an ingredient.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
J. League enters new era as league kicks off first fall-spring campaign
Players from each J. League club pose during a kickoff event on Monday ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

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