by Ema Williams
Because of last summer�fs record temperatures, this year�fs spring promises extremely high cedar pollen counts and a large increase in hay fever. According to the Japan Times, the Environmental Ministry has predicted that Tokyo will show 2.3 times more pollen than the average year and 17 times more pollen than last year.
Japan is unique in that it has a large number (12% of national land) of new growth cedar trees that are nearing the height of their pollen release capabilities. Cedar pollen can travel more than 100 km therefore reaching even urban areas in high concentrations. This is markedly different from weed and grass pollen which can only travel a few meters, thus not reaching urban areas. Because of the unique situation in Japan, up to 20 million people, or 16 percent of the population, contract hay fever each year, according to the Japan Times.