Hi, I'm Mog.
From March through April, I find myself constantly checking the weather forecast.
Why? Because I'm always eager to check the pollen count. In Japan, weather forecasts don't just tell you the temperature — they also report how much pollen is in the air and which regions are most affected.
Since I have pretty severe allergies, I can't go without a face mask during this season.
Hay Fever (花粉症 / Kafunsho)
In spring, pollen from cedar (sugi), cypress (hinoki), and birch (shirakaba) trees fills the air across Japan. As of 2026, it's said that one in two Japanese people suffers from hay fever. So if you spot someone wearing a mask in Japan during spring, there's a good chance they're dealing with pollen allergies!
Symptoms of Hay Fever
Common symptoms of hay fever include:
- Non-stop sneezing
- A runny nose that won't quit
- Itchy eyes
- A scratchy, irritated throat
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
I personally get itchy all over my body and suffer from really bad eye irritation, so I start taking antiallergy medication around the end of February.
Hay Fever in the News
Around February each year, news outlets begin reporting predictions for that year's pollen levels compared to previous years.
From around late February onward, daily updates on pollen dispersal conditions are broadcast.
Cedar & Cypress Pollen Forecast – Japan Meteorological Association (tenki.jp)
https://tenki.jp/lite/pollen/
Days with low pollen counts are a great opportunity to ditch the mask. After all, nobody wants to wear a mask when they've put together a cute outfit!
That said, I do sometimes get itchy while out and end up taking medication on the go.
How to Cope on High-Pollen Days
When a high-pollen day is forecast, many allergy sufferers — like me — take medication and wear masks. Another thing to note: many Japanese households hang their laundry outside to dry, but people with hay fever tend to dry their clothes indoors instead.
For more on how Japanese people do laundry, check out this article:
https://hereinjapan.com/japan/we-dont-use-hot-water-in-our-washing-machine/
Of course, opening windows for ventilation is also avoided, and on days with lower pollen counts, it's done sparingly.
Taking Care at Home
When you return home after being outside, it's important not to bring pollen inside with you. Before stepping through the front door, brush off any pollen that may have settled on your hair or clothes. As for me, I head straight to the bath when I get home — something I highly recommend for anyone with hay fever.
You can also find products at pharmacies designed to remove pollen you've breathed in — such as eye-washing cups and nasal rinse kits. That said, overuse is not recommended, so it's best to consult a doctor before making it a habit.
At the office, you'll sometimes see people stuffing tissues into their nose under their mask, or someone who just can't stop sneezing. It's hard to focus like that, isn't it?
According to Panasonic's estimate, "Economic Loss Due to Reduced Productivity from Hay Fever 2025":
...the economic loss amounts to approximately 232 billion yen per day. That's staggering! 😭
And if you're thinking, "This has nothing to do with me" — think again.
Hay fever can strike anyone, completely out of the blue.
Just recently, a colleague of mine had been sneezing terribly, and when I asked if they had hay fever, they said: "I don't want to admit I have hay fever, so I've been telling myself it's just a cold." I kind of get that feeling. 😅
This is Mog, signing off and hoping that one day, allergies will disappear from the world entirely.
