William Hay fever - or pollen allergy - season is upon us, and it is a largely self-inflicted phenomenon. The biggest culprit is the sugi (杉), or Japanese cedar. During WWII, deforestation was a huge problem as mountains were denuded for fuel. I have read that Tatsudayama and Mt. Kimpo were completely denuded, so all current growth on both mountains are entirely post-war. The government decided to grow mammoth sugi plantations due to the tree’s rapid growth rate and its suitability for lumber. What they did not factor in was that sugi produce a prodigious amount of pollen in the spring. Furthermore, with imported wood undercutting domestic prices, many of these plantations have been abandoned, leading to the growth of larger, more mature trees which produce more pollen. More can be read here: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/strange-story-hay-fever-japan/ Our friend Jeff Cairns, who lives perched atop Mt. Kimpo, provided us with these stunning images of the snow-like pollen sweeping down from the sugi towards the city. Those affected by pollen are encouraged to stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, and change clothes often.