Disclaimer: Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate Spring at all. In fact it is the best
thing that ever happened to me since Winter (if you know what I mean). But
coming from a country with only two seasons (wet and dry, and something in
between which could count as the 3rd), my concept of Spring can be
best described by the cliché “a bouquet of flowers and a bag full of sunshine” and so discovering this dark side of Spring in Japan really came as a surprise.
Weeks before the much awaited Sakura
(cherry blossoms) paradise and the blooming of plums and other spring flowers,
this new human hype dominated the sights.
Many
people were wearing masks, sneezing and coughing here and there (my friends and
labmates included). There were people with red and itchy eyes, people with sore
throat and other unexplainable (or maybe psychological) feelings. Allergies
flare up at their worse! And even people who never had any allergies eventually developed them here.
And the culprit? Just the littlest of things. Pollen. Flowers don't bloom without a price.
 |
Cherry blossom pollen.
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of pollen grains from a cherry tree flower (Prunus yedoensis) |
Photo Credit
At the gates of Spring, Hay fever welcomes you with open arms. Welcome
to Spring in Japan indeed!
What is Hay Fever anyway? (source)
Hay fever known as allergic rhinitis,
is a common condition that shows signs and symptoms similar to a cold with
sneezing, congestion, runny nose and sinus pressures.
Causes: allergic response to
airborne substances, such as pollen - unlike a cold which is caused by a virus.
Important Terms:
If you are in Japan, you may want to familiarize yourself with the following terms to get by this allergy season. Source here.
花粉症 かふんしょう kafunshou hay fever
花粉 かふん kafun pollen
アレルギー arerugii allergy
I have a friend who lives in Japan for 3 years now. She was allergy free during the first year but the year after that it hit her, the dreaded pollen allergy, and now that spring has come, masks have been part of her daily wardrobe. We call her ninja sometimes because she wears a mask that looks something like this.
 |
| Department store sales clerk displays anti-hayfever mask and
goggles at Toyko's Mitsukoshi department store |
But Japan is actually prepared for Hay Fever with all of their creative and innovative solutions like face masks, nose masks, anti-pollen spray, and the like.
Nevertheless, Spring is still a beauty. Just look at the picture below and for sure you will agree. I did not experience hay fever this year but as the urban legend goes around here, I might develop it in a year's time. Who knows? See you in Japan next spring!
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