6th April – 卯月
Hay fever exists whole year in Japan, but the worst season starts from the early February and continues till May – In Japanese spring time, there are Cedar pollen flying around and make illiterate many people.
Cedar tree afforestation had done from Edo era, and even after the World War 2, Japanese planted plenty Cedar trees in the burnt field. Therefore 43% of all forest in Japan is made up of Cedar trees.
The first time when Japanese discovered this cedar hay fever was in 1964, meaning that before this period, hay fever caused by cedar trees were not verified.
In the past, cedar trees were cut in order to use them for furniture and houses. However due to the cheap materials from overseas are now mainly used, those cedar trees have been neglected. Since cedar trees spread pollen in the air when the trees are over 30 years old and it continues to produce huge amount pollen till its 50th, therefore those left cedar trees cause the terrible hay fever.
Hay fever occurs when human body react to the pollen coming inside. Human body makes antibody for this foreign substance and try to remove them to the outside.
The allergic reactions can be; itchy eyes, itchy throat, continuous sneezing, running nose with clear colored nasal mucus.
One study shows that in Japan, around 40% of people are considered themselves as hay fever patients (2008). In 2019, it increased to 58%.
Not only cedar pollen but other plants such as hinoki cypress, ragweed and wormwood and so on cause hay fever – this is why the hay fever exists whole year, as each plants produce pollen in different season.
In Hokkaido and Okinawa have less cedar trees, so if you have very bad hay fever, it might be better to be at those north or south edge island to prevent allergic reaction during spring time!
Little Japan Dictionary 