POLLEN ALLERGY?

Before I get into the topic of the day, plus our current cruise activities, a few newsworthy topics of the day

• Thisarticle indicates that the annual joke of today, April 1 in the media, began only in 1957 when the BBC claimed that spaghetti trees in southern Switzerland near the Italian border had reached harvest season.
• I recall being in Japan on numerous first of Aprils.
• Japan Times usually has a front-page April Fool's Joke.  Not sure about today.  Google AI couldn't find anything.

• 
  However Tokyo Paladin with Jake Adelstein published an article yesterday (March 31) about new bicycle laws to be enforced from today.
• First you wonder if this is one of those spoofs.
• Then you realize this could really be true.
• Under any circumstances, though, very funny and worth your while to read the entire article.
• Has to do with 113 new ways to break the law on a bicycle.

• Many say the Japanese are wise, and their wisdom as a collective decision couldn't possibly go wrong.  Wrong!  Read that section at the end of my blog.
• 
  I asked Google AI, how's the Iran War doing?
• Kind of a stalemate.  Still going on, but no immediate peace seems obvious.

• 
  WTI Crude Oil price was at around $70/barrel when Israel and the USA first bombed Iran a little more than a month ago, and is now at about $100/bbl.  That is a 43% jump.
• The Strait of Hormuz is still essentially closed, but President Donald Trump's current attitude is almost like so what, let the European and Asian countries open it up.  The USA has a lot oil, and we're doing fine. 

• 
  Still, an invasion of Kharg Island looms.
• The stock market is going bonkers.
• The Dow Jones Industrials were around 49,500 just before the initial bombing at the end of February, and closed yesterday at 46,342, or close to a 7% drop.
• However, the Dow jumped 1100 points yesterday, up 2.5% just for that one day.
• 
  On the other hand, the South Korean stock market suffered a historic crash yesterday, dripping 4.3% for day, and 19% since the Iran War began.

Well, about the topic of today.  It is reported that 30-40% of Americans suffer from hay fever--sneezing, rashes, sniffling, hives, or like suffering from a cold. Some even get into anaphylactic shock.  Hay is one reason, but many get this allergy from pollen.  In fact, the medical profession considers those to be the same thing, known as allergic rhinitis. No virus at work here, and it therefore is not contagious.  

I've been touting the amazingness of Memphis.  Let me neutralize that sense with the statement that this city is the 5th worst city in America for pollen allergy.

• When I flew into Memphis a few days ago, I suddenly began to sneeze.  Felt generally under-the-weather during my whole stay there.
• Then I found out that the reason was pollen in the air.
• So I asked Google AI about this: 

• Top 5 Worst Cities: According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Memphis ranked 5th worst for allergy sufferers in 2025, with high allergy medication use.
• Climate Change: Increased carbon dioxide and warmer temperatures cause plants to grow more aggressively, leading to higher pollen counts.
• Longer Seasons: The Mid-South's climate leads to earlier and longer pollen seasons. 

How to Manage Allergies in Memphis:

• Check Pollen Levels: Monitor the daily pollen count using tools like WeatherBug.
• Reduce Exposure: Keep windows closed, avoid outdoor activity on high-pollen days, and wash clothes/shower after being outside.
• Medication: Use over-the-counter antihistamines or nasal steroids (e.g., Flonase, Zyrtec, Claritin) to manage symptoms. 

Key peak months for allergies in Memphis are March and October

I then asked Google AI, what is the 10 worst cities for pollen allergy in the USA:

Top 10 Most Challenging Cities for Allergies (2026):

1. Boise, ID
2. San Diego, CA
3. Tulsa, OK
4. Provo, UT
5. Rochester, NY
6. Wichita, KS
7. Raleigh, NC
8. Ogden, UT
9. Spokane, WA
10. Greenville, SC

I don't even see Memphis on this list.  Or maybe challenging is not the same as worse.  Google AI also had another way to look at this problem.

Common "Worst" Cities in Recent Years:

• Wichita, KS: Frequently cited due to high tree/grass pollen.
• New Orleans, LA: Known for high pollen and humidity.
• Oklahoma City, OK: High weed/tree pollen.
• Raleigh, NC & Richmond, VA: Commonly in the top 10 due to high pollen counts. 

Unfortunately, the American Melody will take me to New Orleans, where I'll stay for a few days. The 2025 Allergy Capitals report gave the following list, and this time both Memphis and New Orleans were mentioned:

Top 10 Worst Cities for Pollen Allergies (2025)

Based on the AAFA 2025 Allergy Capitals Report, which ranks 100 U.S. cities based on pollen levels, medication usage, and allergist availability: 

1. Wichita, Kansas
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4. Tulsa, Oklahoma
5. Memphis, Tennessee
6. Little Rock, Arkansas
7. Raleigh, North Carolina
8. Richmond, Virginia
9. Greenville, South Carolina
10. Greensboro, North Carolina

All these cities are in the southeast into Texas.  Fortunately for me, the final six weeks of our trip will be north of Scranton, Pennsylvania, which is #19 on that above list.

In all my travels, I remember Japan as a country for terrible pollen pollution.  So I asked Google AI about the world:

Australia is frequently cited as the allergy capital of the world due to high hay fever rates and severe pollen surges. Other major global allergy hotspots include Japan (due to cedar pollen), alongside high-risk areas in the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Regional hotspots include Canberra, Australia, and cities like Wichita and New Orleans. 

Worst Countries for Pollen Allergies

• Australia: Often called the "allergy capital of the world," with up to 16.5 million cases recorded and very high hay fever rates.
• Japan: Tokyo is a major hotspot due to cedar planting after World War II, with roughly half the city's population suffering from hay fever.
• United States: Cities like Wichita, KS, and New Orleans, LA, face extreme pollen levels.
• Argentina & Brazil: Identified as having some of the highest pollen concentrations in research studies.
• New Zealand: Shares high hay fever rates with Australia. 

Worst Areas for Pollen by Region

• Europe: Southern France, Spain, Portugal, and Northern Italy are known for high pollen counts during peak season.
• United States: The 2025 top allergy cities are dominated by Wichita, KS, New Orleans, LA, Oklahoma City, OK, and Tulsa, OK. 

Factors Influencing Allergy Severity

• Climate Change: Increased moisture from storms increases grass and weed pollen, contributing to longer seasons.
• Urbanization: Urban pollution interacts with pollen, worsening reactions.
• Planting Choices: Post-war cedar planting in Japan created severe, long-term allergies.

Surely enough, this report especially cited Japan.  Here is what happened in that country.

• The Japanese refer to hay fever as the national illness.  25% suffer from it.  
• No, make that 42.5% from a national survey in 2019 and close to 50% in big cities.  Something about the concrete jungle heat keeping pollen swirling around.
• Gets so bad that workers stay home and kids skip school.
• Watch this video.
• Healthcare costs go up, work performance dips and the national economy drops.
• It wasn't always this way.

Hay fever was first reported here in 1964, the year of the Tokyo Olympic Games, when the nation sought to showcase its recovery from World War II defeat. Large pollen volumes in 1976, and again in 1979, promptly boosted the number of hay fever sufferers, and, as we entered the 1980s, the ailment was affecting so many people that it was regarded as a social problem.

Around 60 types of plants in Japan are recognized as causing hay fever, but by far the worst culprit – provoking symptoms such as sneezing, sore eyes, runny noses and more in a whopping 70 percent of sufferers – is the native cedar tree.

• 
  This is where the story makes you wonder how Japan so stupidly planted this tree.  Two types, the natural one to the right and the Cryptomeria variety below
• After World War II, their mountains were treeless from excessive logging. 
• Landslides followed and a decision was made in 1961 to mostly replant with two types of cedar trees.  They thought well of the cedar for it was disease resistant and grew straight up.

• 
  However, allergies began to appear in 1964, and it took into the 1990s for research to be initiated as to why,
• Their pollen season peaks in the spring, and depending on where, from February into May.
• Even if you don't live near a forest, you're not safe, for cedar pollen can travel over a 65 miles and more.
• However, regions like Kyushu only have maybe 225% suffering souls for they did not plant as many cedar trees there.
• I you live in Hokkaido and Okinawa, they didn't plant any of these trees, and they are pollen free.
• 
  Okay, dumb in the past, but what is the Japanese government doing about this national problem?
• For one, since 1990 they have hosted annual Hay Fever Conferences.
• They keep drawing up plans,
• Find low-pollen tree varieties.
• Cut down 20% of these trees over the next 10 years.
• Use mostly lumber from these trees.

• These cedars are on 12% of all Japan lands, and just suddenly chopping them all down would cost trillions of dollars.  Has to be done incrementally.

• In 2019, a survey showed that 42.5% of the population was affected.  This figure was only 20% in 1998.
• There seems to be a growing trend that children are beginning to hurt more than adults.
• Now, they're using genetic engineering grow pollen-free cedar trees, plus develop rice that can reduce hay fever symptoms.  Yes, rice.
• Now using tools like Google Trends and MASK-air to help doctors treat patients.
• So what about today, what can you do?

• Antihistamines
  Over-the-counter heroes like アレグラFX (aregura fx) and クラリチンEX (kurarichin ex) are popular because they don’t usually make you sleepy—perfect if you need to stay alert at work or school. 
• Nasal Sprays (Steroids)
  For clogged-up noses and serious symptoms, sprays like フルナーゼ(furunaaze) and リノコートパウダースプレー (rinokooto paudaa supure) can help.
  
• Eye Drops
  Pollen making your eyes feel like sandpaper? わかもと製薬 【第2類医薬品】アレジフェンス (arejifensu) is designed for allergies and can bring serious relief.

Also:

• Mask Up: PM2.5 or pollen-specific masks can block particles from wrecking your day. Cheap ones are easy to find at convenience stores and drugstores.
  
• Wear the Right Clothes: Believe it or not, cotton is your best bet—it attracts less pollen than wool, synthetics or silk. Also, ditch the fuzzy scarves and coats that trap allergens.
  
• Shut It Down: Close your windows on high-pollen days. If you want fresh air, invest in an air purifier. Many Japanese apartments have pollen filter settings on their air conditioners—check yours!
  
• Clean Up Fast: After being outside, wash your hands, rinse your face, and change clothes. It’s annoying, but it helps.
  
• Keep Your Space Allergy-Friendly: Use anti-pollen sprays on curtains, clothes, and bedding. They’re everywhere in Japan during hay fever season—look for “花粉” on the label.
  
• Take Care of Yourself: Stress, lack of sleep, and alcohol can all make hay fever worse. A little self-care—like stretching, light workouts, or going to bed early—actually helps.

Thank heavens, today is April 1, and pollen pollution should go away....hopefully soon, unless you happen to live in Japan.  And, of course, there will be New Orleans, and pollen season extends well into April.

Today I'll end with Shohei Ohtani's pitching debut masterpiece.  No, one more, another April Fool's Joke that is maybe not an April Fool's Joke.  The full moon tonight will be PINK.

I'll continue reporting on our Mississippi River cruix tomorrow.

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