Confessions from behind a mask ... and from the sickbed
Just as new blooms mark the arrival of spring, we know it's hay fever season in Japan thanks to an uptick in face masks. Like anyone who comes to Japan, I've flirted with the mask myself on occasion, but never really made a commitment. For ...
Japanese and U.S. researchers say allergy shots for pregnant women may protect babies for life
A group of researchers based in Japan and the United States believe that administering allergy shots to women during pregnancy could prevent their unborn children from developing allergies after birth and throughout their lives. The researchers believe the special shots, which prevent offspring from producing ...
Gifu factory devoted to producing allergen-free chocolate bars
A former president of a sweets manufacturer in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, has established a small factory exclusively for producing chocolates that do not contain any of 27 allergens, including dairy products and soybeans. While major companies are reluctant to produce allergen-free sweets because it involves ...
Spring may still be a few weeks away, but if you are experiencing red, swollen and itchy eyes it could be because this year's hay fever season has already begun — with meteorologists saying that cedar and cypress pollen counts could be twice as ...
Japan's biologists plead for urgent eradication of invasive fire ants
Biologists are calling for urgent nationwide action to prevent venomous fire ants from infesting Japan after the highly invasive species was spotted at several major ports, including Tokyo. "Japan needs to fight the insects as a national campaign," said Takahiro Murakami, an associate professor of ...
School kitchens in Japan risk being swamped by food allergy claims
Data suggest Japan's schools are seeing a surge in food allergies among students, but are all the claims legitimate?
When pollen attacks! Experts reveal new approaches to combating hay fever
With the allergy season just around the corner, we examine the latest attempts to stem one of the country's most irritating problems.
Kyushu University team IDs protein linked to atopic dermatitis itchiness
Atopic dermatitis can cause strong itchiness, but new research by Kyushu University could lead to development of drugs to finally put an end to sufferers' urge to keep scratching their skin. A team of researchers led by Yoshinori Fukui and Kazuhiko Yamamura of Kyushu University ...
Soba noodle association develops fun test for allergies
One of the major attractions for foreign tourists in Japan is delicious washoku (traditional cuisine). But visitors may not know that one dish includes an ingredient that can cause life-threatening allergic reactions — soba. To promote safety, an association of soba shops in the city ...
Seeking pollen protection in Japan with sprays, apps and nose plugs
Here are a few examples of how people in Japan combat, or endure, the harsh allergy season.
Hay fever: nothing to sneeze at
Pharmaceutical companies are deploying a whole new generation of high-tech products in the fight against the seasonal irritant
