The hay fever season has started in Japan, warns the Japanese newspaper The Japan Times on February 13.
This year’s pollen count is expected to be double the annual average.
According to the Japan Meteorological Association, which provides weather information, pollen levels in the Tokyo metropolitan area are forecast to be double the annual average, while the Tohoku regions in northern Japan and Tokai, which includes the prefectures from Shizuoka and Aichi, the average amount of pollen is expected to exceed the average by 1.8 times.
In the Shikoku region, which consists of Kochi, Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime prefectures, the number of cases is expected to be almost three times higher than last year.
The Environment Ministry also said this season’s cedar pollen levels are expected to be the highest in 10 years.
The amount of pollen dispersed in the spring depends on the weather last summer. Summers with warmer temperatures, longer sun, and little rain (conditions like last year) create favorable conditions that lead to more pollen next spring.
Peak hay fever season depends on the area and the type of pollen: cedar or cypress.
Fukuoka city is expected to experience the highest amount of cedar pollen between late February and early March, while cities such as Osaka, Hiroshima, and Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture are expected to experience the highest amount of pollen from early to mid March.
For cypress pollen, peak pollen levels in Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Takamatsu are expected to occur between late March and mid-April.
Cypress pollen in Nagoya and Osaka is expected to peak from early April to mid-April, while Tokyo will have a pollen peak for most of April. In places like Sendai and Kanazawa, cypress pollen is not expected to peak.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.