Springtime Unwelcome Guest Pollen... The Main Cause of 2 Trillion Won Daily Economic Loss [Sunday Culture]

Japanese Media Urges Caution Over Pollen Allergies
Pollen Levels Expected to Be 1.5 Times Higher Than Average
"Evacuation Vacations" to Pollen-Free Areas Also Popular

It feels like the New Year just started yesterday, but we are already entering March. Around me, I’m starting to hear people say they want to go to Japan in spring to see the cherry blossoms. However, it’s hard to say that Japan’s spring is only about the romance of cherry blossoms. It’s also because of the pollen that scatters along with the cherry blossoms. Pollen allergies in Japan are really severe, and this year, with predictions that pollen levels will be higher than usual, the media has been urging caution day after day. Why is Japan always so sensitive to pollen? Today, I will tell you about “Kafunsho (花粉症),” the term used for spring pollen allergy reactions in Japan.

Public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media have been continuously urging caution about pollen allergies. Pollen concentration is always mentioned in weather forecasts. For example, the forecast on the 1st of this month reported, “In the Kyushu and Chugoku regions, pollen is expected to fly in large quantities as temperatures rise during the day.” Especially this weekend, pollen levels are predicted to peak, and they emphasize the need for thorough countermeasures.

Japan Meteorological Agency's pollen map. The darker the color, the higher the amount. Tenki Japan.

So why does Japan have such severe pollen dispersal? The secret lies in the mountains. All standards related to pollen allergies in Japan are based on cedar trees. During the war, Japan, as a former imperial power, faced shortages of all materials and began indiscriminately cutting down trees in surrounding mountains to use as building materials and fuel for reconstruction. As a result, barren mountains spread nationwide, and typhoons and other disasters followed in many areas. Because of this devastation, a movement to restore the mountains began. The tree Japan chose was the cedar tree, which was originally a native species in Japan. It is lightweight, soft, easy to process, and has deep roots. Because of these characteristics, many cedar trees were planted. After about 10 years, these cedars start producing male flowers, and after 20 years, the amount of pollen they produce becomes enormous. In Korea and China, cedar trees are not abundant enough to cause allergies, so it is said that cedar pollen allergies are almost exclusive to Japan.

Moreover, cedar trees are wind-pollinated. Male flowers that release pollen begin to form in July. Therefore, the amount of cedar pollen produced is closely related to the weather conditions during the previous summer. The more sunlight and less rainfall in summer, the more pollen is produced the following year. By November, the pollen in the male flowers matures. Then, as days shorten and temperatures drop, the trees enter dormancy. After being exposed to cold winter temperatures for a certain period, the male flowers awaken and prepare to release pollen. The timing of pollen release is earlier if warm weather continues after awakening, and later if the weather is cold.

Every year, Japan is on alert because of pollen. It is said that 40% of the Japanese population suffers from cedar pollen allergies. Even in Tokyo, the capital city with almost no forests, many people have pollen allergies, which is a problem. Since cedar pollen is wind-dispersed, it can travel at least 200 km, so pollen is carried to Tokyo from wherever the wind blows. Also, because many roads are asphalt, pollen is not absorbed and continues to float around, which is another issue.

Scattered cedar pollen. Mainabi Agriculture.

Panasonic Japan estimated that pollen allergies cause people to stay indoors and reduce consumption, resulting in an economic loss of 232 billion yen (about 2.25 trillion won) per day. Even people interviewed on the news say things like “I want to take my eyes out with my hands and wash them” and declare that they cannot go outside without masks and medicine.

The places with fewer cedar trees are Hokkaido and Okinawa. Because of this, there is a culture called “Hibun (避粉),” which means avoiding pollen by staying in places with fewer cedar trees during this season. In Kushiro, Hokkaido, they promote the town as “pollen zero” because there are no cedar or “hinoki” cypress trees that cause allergies. Nearby hotels even offer “Hibun travel” packages or workation products. Even remote islands without these trees use “pollen zero” as a promotional tool to attract tourists.

Then, one might wonder: wouldn’t cutting down all the cedar trees solve the problem? The Japanese Forestry Agency, equivalent to Korea’s Forest Service, answers this question. While logging cedar forests is an important measure, if the area is not properly restored by planting other seedlings afterward, it can cause floods and landslides. Rapidly cutting down all the trees can cause such problems, so logging must be done in a planned manner, according to the Forestry Agency.

Especially, the media is concerned that this year’s pollen levels will be 1.5 times higher than average. This is because last summer, when the flowers were forming, was unusually hot and sunny. Moreover, it’s not only cedar trees; pollen from cypress, birch, grasses, and chrysanthemum family plants that cause allergies also float around in large amounts. Therefore, it is important to know which pollen you are allergic to. Even foreigners without allergies tend to develop them within three years of living in Japan. In any case, spring is not always a welcome season.