Dave Fossett wrote:
> John W wrote:
>
>
> > [ ... ]   One of the priests
> > talked with us for a long time about the problems they're having
with
> > sugi (pine) pollen. It literally fell from the trees in buckets,
like a
> > yellowish snow. The priest said they clean the temple every
morning,
> > but honestly it could use constant cleaning; but that's not
pracical,
> > he said, so they make do.
>
> That's cedar pollen.

I stand corrected.

> Didn't you wonder why so many people were wearing
> surgical masks? ;-)
>
A friend of mine works for a prefectural government's office as a
researcher and he said there's a growing belief that it's not simply
the pollen but the pollen combined with pollution that's the problem.
People who live in areas with lower pollution levels don't typically
have the allergy, while urban areas are generally more affected.

Personally I think the whole sugi allergy situation is kind of
fascinating, since it's such a home-brewed problem.

Oh, and I'm re-posting (not cross) this to fj.life.in-japan since those
whiners say there's nothing to talk about. :)

John W.